Earl Blake Strang Jr., 74, of Gum Springs Road, formerly, of Ridgedale Road, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, with his family by his side. He was born in Sleepy Hollow off Grafton Road on the old Shaffer place, son of the late Earl B. Strang Sr. and Virginia Edith Austin Strang.
Earl and his best friend, Gary Burch, joined the Navy together after graduating from Morgantown High School in 1965. They went to boot camp in Great Lakes, Mich. Earl was stationed in Davisville, R.I. as a proud member of the U.S. Navy Seabees. He was in NMCB 7 and spent two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966-67 and 1968-69.
Earl was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 306 in Morgantown, Disabled American Veterans in Fairmont, National Seabee Veterans of America Island 3 in Pittsburgh, and VFW Post 548 in Morgantown. Earl worked for University Supply and Pass Inc. He retired from Laboratory Corp. of America in Fairmont.
Earl is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol Marshall Strang; son, Jeremy Wade Strang and companion Janet Ann Keaton, with whom they made their home after his father became ill; and beautiful and loving granddaughters, Madison Lauryl Strang and her boyfriend Zachary Polen, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Megan Tayler Strang, at home.
Also, surviving are his brothers-in-law, James Marshall and wife Nancy (Berkshire), of Bruceton Mills; Richard Marshall and wife Dianne (Reeves), of Rising Fawn, Ga., and Roger Marshall and wife Brenda (Schoonover), of Grafton Road. Surviving sisters-in-law include, Sue (Marshall) Chipps, of Bruceton Mills, and Lisa (Marshall) Austin and husband Dave, of Grafton Road.
Earl is also survived by his mother-in-law, Wilma Jean (Criss); his faithful four-legged friend, Lucy; and his best friends, Gary and Tewana (Anderson) Burch, of Grafton Road.
In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Earl Strang; sister, Dorotha Lee (Strang) Keener; grandson, Gabriel Blake Strang; and maternal grandparents, Charles A. Austin and Etta J. (Costello) Austin.
The family would like to thank UHC/WVU Hospice staff, especially Amy, Trish and Libby, for all their wonderful care; CBOC in Westover; Louis A. Johnson Veterans Hospital and the Home-Based Primary Care Team; Meghan Leber from Amedisys; his extended family, buddies and wives; and the staff and buddies at the Morgantown Vet Center, where he attended group faithfully on Tuesday evenings until his illness no longer allowed.
Friends will be received at the Fred Jenkins Funeral Home, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, and again from 10 a.m., Thursday, until the time of services at 11 a.m.. Earl would want everyone to wear their favorite T-shirt and jeans if attending. He will be laid to rest at the Halleck Cemetery with military honors conducted by the US Navy and Local Morgantown and Westover VFW Posts 548, 9916, and VVA Chapter.
Condolences:
www.fredjenkinsfuneralhome.com
