WILLIAMSBURG—Dr. Earle Westray Strickland, formerly of Zuni, died at The Hospice House of Williamsburg, July 19, 2007, after a long battle with heart disease.

Dr. Strickland was born on Sept. 27, 1918 in Whitakers, N.C., to the late Benjamin Anderson and Rosa Westray Strickland.

He had one brother, the late Brig. Gen. Benjamin Anderson Strickland Jr., MD.

He graduated from Whitakers High School.

He attended Wake Forest College. where he played trombone in the marching band, receiving a BS in 1939.

Dr. Strickland received his DDS in 1943 from the Medical College of Virginia and completed a one year internship in oral surgery.

Subsequently he served in the US Naval Dental Corp at Camp Peary and at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

During the Korean crisis he was again called to serve in the Navy and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California for a short while.

Dr. Strickland married Charlotte Hall of Zuni in 1944.

After WWII in 1946, he opened a dental office in Zuni, retiring in 1985.

A man with boundless energy, Dr. Strickland believed that he had been blessed and he believed in giving back to his community.

He was a long time member of Bethany Presbyterian Church and served as elder, Sunday school teacher, trustee, and member of numerous committees.

He was instrumental in planning the location of the Zuni Presbyterian School.

He also was on the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Home, Lynchburg, Virginia.

“Doc”, as he was called by his friends, was a founding member of the Zuni Ruritan Club and served as its President and Secretary. He was for many years a member of the Nansemond River Power Squadron and ultimately served as its Commander.

He was an instructor for the Squadron, teaching the Introductory Boating course as well as Seamanship.

Dr. Strickland was proud of his profession and was an active member of the Southside Dental Association as well as the Virginia Dental Association for which he was elected President from 1982-83. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of the Medical College of Virginia and also was elected its President from 1973-74. He was a Fellow of the Virginia Dental Association and a Fellow of the American College of Dentists.

In local government, he was a member of the Planning Commission of Isle of Wright County. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors and served two terms as Chairman.

He was also a member of the Transportation and Safety Commission and served three terms as Chairman.

Dr. Strickland was appointed to the Board of Paul D. Camp Community College on which he served for 10 years and served as its President from 1981-1983.

Dr. Strickland served the American Red Cross as a member of the Service to Military Families and Veterans Committee. He often said that one of the things of which he was most proud was his attainment of the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of American.

After retirement he renewed his interest in music and studied the cello for several years.

He was an avid fisherman and boatman and also enjoyed computers.

He was an insatiable tennis player and played frequently with family and friends until age 86.

Scrabble was his favorite game along with the beloved card game of “Hand and Foot”, which he introduced to countless dear friends.

He never realized that he could paint and draw before his retirement, but he produced lovely acrylic and pastel works, several of which won awards at local art exhibits.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, of 63 years; his daughter, Dr. June Henderson and husband, Dr. Cliff Henderson, both of Williamsburg; two grandsons, Colin Earle Henderson and wife Abbie Hattauer Henderson, of Roswell, Georgia, and Grayson Davis Henderson, of Richmond; two nieces and many cousins.

A memorial service will be held at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Zuni on Sunday, July 29, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to Hospice House of Williamsburg, 4445 Powhatan Parkway, Williamsburg, Virginia 23188, or to the Earle W. Strickland Memorial Fund, Bethany Presbyterian Church, PO Box 41, Zuni, VA 23898.

Family condolences may be sent to 3328 Running Cedar Way, Williamsburg, VA

23188

Nelsen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.