Obituary of Wesley Raymond Strange

Wesley Raymond Strange, age 85, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 23, 2005. He is survived by his wife Lillian, daughters Cheryl Strange (Jen) Dale Duran (Julian), brother Jim Strange, sister Martha Johnston (Curt), and several grandchildren and great-grand-children, nephews Joseph Blum and family, Gary Clintworth and family, Don Strange and family, Val Lind and family, Bud Johnston and family, Karen Dunn and family, Pam Minster and family, Andrea Blum, Bessie Blum (John). He was preceded in death by his brother Roy Strange (Tessie), sister Clarice Clintworth (Dick), and nephews Mike Strange (Laura) and Harley Clintworth (Deb). Wesley was born in Olympia at St. Peter’s Hospital on September 15, 1919 to Roy and Inez Strange. At this time, St. Peter Hospital was located on the Capital Campus, about where the Rose Garden is today. Dad always told stories about his younger days; seeing Charles Lindenberg circle the Capital building on his Tour of States, standing on the Capital steps. There was no place we would go that Dad wouldn’t have a great story about and it seemed like everywhere we went, Dad had ridden his horse Smokey there. Wesley attended Olympia schools and graduated from Olympia High School before joining what was known at that time as the Army Air Corps. When the Army Air Corp split into the Air Force and the Army, Wesley felt it wise to join the Army. It was in Japan where dad met his first wife Lucille, (Dale’s mother), who was working in civil service. Several years later, while serving at Fort Carson, Colorado, he met his wife Lillian, whom he called his savior and the best thing that ever happened to him. He retired from military service 30 years later and decided to build his family a beautiful home in Tumwater. This home was lovingly built on the Tumwater Hill family property and was the place for many family and friends to gather, to grow, to learn and to laugh. Wesley took great pride in building this home and as fate would have it, teaching his 10 year-old nephew Joseph Blum how to build, right along side him. His greatest pride and accomplishment was his strong and steady influence over the lives of those he felt responsible to including his nephew Joe, his daughters Cheryl and Dale, and his loving wife Lillian, as well as countless other family members and friends. Wesley will best be remembered for his strong intellect, his diplomacy and fairness, and his firm knowledge of the practical aspects to life. In 1975 Wesley made his first fishing trip to Baja with his good friend Stu Carlson. Together they discovered the beautiful Baja peninsula and for the next 30 years, Wesley and his loving wife of 49 years called San Felipe home. While there, Wesley continued to show his sense of responsibility to the people of San Felipe and would go on to help design a long-lasting infrastructure for the citizens of San Felipe. In his last year of life as we know it, Wesley returned home to Tumwater and was kindly cared for by his wife and family. In his final days, Wesley’s wife and family cared for him in death as he had cared for them in life. The family of Wesley Raymond Strange invites you to sign the guest book located on this website and share a story or two. The family will maintain a copy of this. If you want to do something in honor of Wesley, please consider purchasing a phone card for a military wife who has a husband serving in Iraq. Wesley always knew the importance of a loving wife and family.