William Bryan Strange's Obituary
STRANGE, WILLIAM BRYAN, JR. (Bill) was born to William Bryan and Martha Francis Strange on June 21, 1921 in Dallas, Texas and passed away on October 18, 2012 after a brief illness. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Southern Methodist University. He served in the US Army during World War II and the Korean War. He married Marjorie Wright, the love of his life in 1944, raised two children with her and had a productive career in a variety of fields including starting and operating various communications companies and working as a Vice President for Sammons Communications. He was a forward thinking man who embraced the new technology of the 20th century and was instrumental in the development of the cable television industry. He served as a councilmember and mayor of the City of Richardson and he served in various civic leadership roles including a term as president of the Texas Municipal League. He was a member of Spring Valley United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School. He was a man of deep faith who spent a lifetime studying and expanding his knowledge of religion while maintaining a 50-year friendship with his pastor Dr. Don Benton. Bill was a generous and gracious host who always made his guests feel particularly special to be in his company. He loved playing gin rummy and golf, drinking his caramel mocha without whipped cream, traveling to New York City for Christmas, and trading for a new Lincoln every year. It was important to him to stay young at heart. He shot his age in golf, learned how to use an iPhone and secretly took lessons so he could surprise everyone by tap dancing at his 90th birthday party. Bill now joins his beloved daughter Dru who left Bill and Marjorie much too early. He is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 68 years; son, William B. Strange, III; friend, Cherryl Peterman; grandchildren, Rachel and Kevin Winner, William and Claire Strange, Adam Strange; great-grandchildren, Julia and Emerson Winner; and brother, Virgil Strange. A memorial service will be held at 02:00 PM on Monday, October 22, 2012 at Spring Valley United Methodist Church, 7700 Spring Valley Road Dallas, TX. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
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