Robert L. Strickland was born in Tyrone, Ok. where his father, C.P. was superintendent of schools. He was named after his uncle, Robert Alexander Collins, and family friend, W. W. Lackey. Later, the family moved to Alvin, Texas, to Arps (Troup), Texas and back to Alvin. Bob attended Hardin-Simmons University until he joined the Air Force early in WWII. He served at the flight school in Liberal, KS as a B-24 aircraft mechanic and at Mitchel Air Force Base, Long Island, New York as a helicopter mechanic. After WWII, Bob finished his bachelor's degree at Sam Houston State Univ. in Huntsville, TX. There, at the Baptist Student Union, he met his wife-to-be Mary Ann Wood. They were married in August 1950 soon after Bob graduated. They attended Southern Seminary in Kentucky but returned to Texas to begin a family. Bob worked for a time at Dow Chemical in Freeport while they resided in Alvin and Angleton. Bob returned to his job as a camp counselor at the Salesmanship Club camp for boys near Dallas. He contracted polio in 1953. He spent about a year in the hospital in Dallas and rehab at the V.A. in Houston. He was completely paralyzed from the waist down, had little arm strength but was blessed with good use of his hands. He did the course work for a Masters degree in psychology at the Univ. of Houston but decided that being a stay-at-home dad was his calling. With his strong hands, he built radios and stereos, pottery, painted, made jewelry and cut gemstones. He was a great father. He was outgoing and faithful in serving his church. His passion was teaching his men's Sunday School class at Gulf Meadows Baptist Church. He served his church as a deacon and teacher. He died in 1988 after a short illness.
Robert L. Strickland was born in Tyrone, Ok. where his father, C.P. was superintendent of schools. He was named after his uncle, Robert Alexander Collins, and family friend, W. W. Lackey. Later, the family moved to Alvin, Texas, to Arps (Troup), Texas and back to Alvin. Bob attended Hardin-Simmons University until he joined the Air Force early in WWII. He served at the flight school in Liberal, KS as a B-24 aircraft mechanic and at Mitchel Air Force Base, Long Island, New York as a helicopter mechanic. After WWII, Bob finished his bachelor's degree at Sam Houston State Univ. in Huntsville, TX. There, at the Baptist Student Union, he met his wife-to-be Mary Ann Wood. They were married in August 1950 soon after Bob graduated. They attended Southern Seminary in Kentucky but returned to Texas to begin a family. Bob worked for a time at Dow Chemical in Freeport while they resided in Alvin and Angleton. Bob returned to his job as a camp counselor at the Salesmanship Club camp for boys near Dallas. He contracted polio in 1953. He spent about a year in the hospital in Dallas and rehab at the V.A. in Houston. He was completely paralyzed from the waist down, had little arm strength but was blessed with good use of his hands. He did the course work for a Masters degree in psychology at the Univ. of Houston but decided that being a stay-at-home dad was his calling. With his strong hands, he built radios and stereos, pottery, painted, made jewelry and cut gemstones. He was a great father. He was outgoing and faithful in serving his church. His passion was teaching his men's Sunday School class at Gulf Meadows Baptist Church. He served his church as a deacon and teacher. He died in 1988 after a short illness.
Gravesite Details
Ashes were scattered at Brookside Memorial Park Cemetery, Houston, TX.
Family Members
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