Bud Strickland

Wilbur "Bud" Strickland of Roeland Park, KS, passed away at his home on February 12, 2013 at the age of 94. He was born on April 12, 1918 on a farm in Floris, Iowa. Bud was very competitive while attending school at Benton High School and had participated in football and track until graduation in 1939. After high school, he competed in jitter bug dancing and was a Golden Glove boxer for St. Joseph, MO. Bud served his country for four and a half years in World War II as a Staff Sergeant, 6th Division, First Infantry while serving under General McArthur. He was a jungle fighter, where he earned an Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign ribbon with a Bronze Service Arrowhead, Philippine Liberation ribbon with a Bronze Star, American Defense Service ribbon, four over sea bars, Victory ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and two Bronze Stars for the New Guinea and Luzon Campaigns. Bud was a member of the #49 Eagle VFW, member of the Kansas City Frogman Underwater Society. He was a certified scuba diver and assisted with the Underwater Sheriff Water Patrol for search and rescue missions. Following his term in the military, Bud worked for Cramer Chair Industries for 35 years. Bud was born the son of Samuel Paul and Josephine (Long) Strickland. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Paul and Wayman "Dynamite" Strickland; sister, Margarite Anderson and the love of his life Doris Ann (Grady) Strickland after 56 years of marriage. He is survived by his four beautiful daughters; Paulette Jenks and her husband Harry, Melody Strickland, Shelly Padelli and her husband Cecil and Tammy Lawrence and her husband Steve; grandchildren, Buddy Jenks, Jenny Jenks and her husband Jay Romanishin, Caleb and Mystic Nelson, Aurora Strickland, Crystal Coates, David Price, Sarah Pecina, Karen Lenher, Austin Samantha, Taylor Ann Lawrence and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 18, 2013 from 12-1:00 P.M., followed by a memorial service at 1:00 P.M. both at Maple Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, KS. To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.maplehillfuneralhome.com.

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Bud Strickland

April 12, 1918 - February 12, 2013