Bill Strickland passed away on Thursday, November 21st at his home in Suffolk, Virginia. He was the patriarch of a large family, and is survived by Jean, his wife of 56 years. He was a father to six sons and two daughters, a father-in-law, a grandfather, a great grandfather, and an uncle.

He will be missed by many.

Bill was the youngest in a family of nine children, born in South Carolina in the year 1924. Family was important to Bill, and he remained close with his brothers and sisters and his nieces and nephews the entirety of his life. He made it a point to attend family reunions, frequently spoke on the telephone with his relatives, and took frequent road trips to South Carolina and down to Florida to visit with his family.

Professionally, he started a career early with his enlistment in the U.S. Army. Following his time in the service he drove long distance trucks for a living, which sparked his interest in interstate and highway routes. When family was traveling, he always had an opinion which road would be the fastest or the best to travel. He was fond of telling his family that he had backed up more miles than they'd driven forward, and likely, he was right. Some of his most entertaining stores came from his time on the road. In order to be closer to home, Bill owned a service station in Chesapeake, Virginia when his children were young and ultimately retired from a position in the city garage with the City of Chesapeake.

Bill was a forty-nine year Masonic veteran and Life Member in Perpetuity of Lake Drummond Masonic Lodge No. 178, where he was a faithful and active member serving in the positions of Tiler and Trustee. He was a Charter Member of Great Bridge Royal Arch Chapter No. 82. Freemasonry was important to Bill, and he took great pride in the legacy of his sons, grandsons and nephews as they joined the fraternal order. He enjoyed attending meetings and events, and kept up with the newsletters even when his health prohibited his weekly attendance.

He enjoyed gardening, and being outdoors. His family could often find him on his golf cart, inspecting the garden, or driving over to one of his sons' homes to supervise a project. He had a great sense of humor, and loved to tell stories, and liked to listen to good country music.

Bill was a provider, and lived his life with emphasis on that value. He had habit of waiting until his family had been served a meal before he would eat his own, just to be sure that there was enough to go around. He loved his family, he took great pride in their accomplishments, and he wanted the best for each of them.

Memories of Bill are a reminder of his dedication to his family and his community.

Graveside Masonic Services will be held Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 3 p.m. at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, 4569 Shoulders Hill Rd, Suffolk, VA officiated by the Lake Drummond Masonic Lodge. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lake Drummond Masonic Lodge "Electronic Sign Fund" at 509 George Washington Hwy N, Chesapeake, VA 23323. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.