Marion Clarence Strickland

Gardner — Funeral services for Marion Clarence “Strick” Strickland, 81, Olathe, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bruce Funeral Home in Gardner. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence.Mr. Strickland died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at Olathe Medical Center. He was born Oct. 9, 1927, in Spring Hill, the son of Wayne Eli and Mary Magdeline Brubacher Strickland. He graduated from Gardner High School in 1945. He earned a Bachelor of Science in electronic engineering from Kansas University and did graduate work at Syracuse University.Mr. Strickland served in the Merchant Marine and U.S. Army during World War II.He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 31 years in various locations, including Olathe, where he was the ARTCC sector manager, retiring in 1983. He then consulted for Martin Marietta in Washington, DC. He and his wife had also lived in Ottawa and Kansas City, Kan., Atlanta and Memphis, Tenn. They retired to Arkansas in 1993. Mr. Strickland moved back to Olathe in 2007.He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He was an avid KU fan and alumnus, and was active in community service. He enjoyed playing pool, being outside and watching old Western movies.He married Ruth Elaine Tatham on Sept. 3, 1955, in Lawrence. She preceded him in death in 2006.He was also preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Roger Wayne; two sisters, Lorena Pearl Klamm and Dorothy Dell DeNoon; and a stepbrother, Raymond Strickland.Survivors include two sons, James Lee, Olathe, and Terry Allen, Key West, Fla.; a stepsister, Ruth Ellen Lynch, Kansas City, Mo.; and many nieces and nephews.The family will meet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.The family suggests memorials to the Gardner Edgerton Scholarship Fund, sent in care of the mortuary, P.O. Box 192, Gardner, KS 66030.Online condolences may be sent at brucefuneralhome.com.