Bob Strange

Robert Strange passed away January 23, 2011 at his Klipsan Beach residence at the age of 86, He was born February 21,1924 in Knoxville, Tennessee where received his education. Growing up during the Depression, Robert left school at an early age to join the Conservation Corps. He then joined the Navy in 1940 and served during WWII as a boatswain's mate second class onboard the USS Jason, a sub-chaser, in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. At the end of the war in 1946, he ended his Navy career honorably discharged. After his military duty, Robert and his wife Ann moved to Deep River, Washington where he held various jobs including the Wahkiakum County road department, dairy farmer on his 116 acre farm and at the Naselle Radar Base as a civilian worker. After the base closed, he transferred to McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma where he married Thelma Kempii, retiring 1977. Upon retirement he and Thelma built and ran Cranberry Trailer Park in Long Beach. Robert and Thelma enjoyed many winters traveling to Yuma, Arizona. His hobbies included, but were not limited to, golfing, clamming, fishing and puttering in his workshop and he would be especially excited when discovering a find at a garage sale. He was preceded in death by wife Thelma in 2008 and siblings Boyd Newman and Billie Huff. Survivors include his children: Gail Lewis (Paul) of Olympia; Jim Strange (Marilyn) of Naselle; Dennis Strange (Cindy) Deep River; Buddy Strange (Wendy) of Naselle; eight grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be held at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea in Long Beach on Saturday January 29th at 1:00 p.m. with a reception following at the chapel. Graveside service will follow at Peaceful Hill Cemetery in Naselle. The casket will be open Friday, 10 AM until 4 PM at Penttila's Chapel. Memorials may be made to Harbors Home Health and Hospice, 201 7th Street, Hoquiam, WA 98550. His guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com