Technical Sergeant Anthony F. Strovas, Jr.

Anthony F. Strovas, Jr. left us in the Strovas tradition, suddenly and without warning May 5, 2016. Tony was born Tony Frank Strovas Jr., to Tony and Bertha Harrison Strovas at Black Diamond near Walsenburg, Colo., Aug. 30, 1933. The family moved to Pueblo, CO and then to Ryderwood, WA in 1947. Tony graduated from Ryderwood High School and attended Lower Columbia College before enlisting in the Air Force. Tony served in the military for 21 years, including active tours of duty in Korea, Vietnam [483, 1967], as well as European and stateside stations. He was part of the Atlas missile program at Roswell, NM during the 1960’s, returning to Longview in 1973, where he worked at Reynolds Metals Corp until his retirement in 1998.

Tony was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree serving as faithful navigator, Pioneer Lions Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sandbaggers. He served as chairman of First Citizen’s Credit Union Board and the Fibre Federal Credit Union Supervisory Committee, where he continued to enjoy emeritus status after his term.

An outstanding athlete, Tony was active in sports all his life, including baseball, football, basketball, track and cycling. Invited to try out for professional baseball, he chose the Air Force, playing football on the Air Force team and goalie for the SAC European soccer team. He was honored to meet the King of Norway when the SAC team defeated the Norwegian nation club.

After retirement, Tony became a distance runner and participated in marathons, played on local softball teams and he enjoyed helping to win many trophies as a member of the Sportsmen’s League bowling teams. A true outdoors man, Tony was an avid fisherman, expert hunter and scratch golfer.

Tony was predeceased by his parents, Tony Sr., and Bertha Harrison Strovas; a sister, Beverly Strovas Strom; and his first wife, Patricia E. Halseth Strovas.

He is survived by his wife, June Crocker Strickland; a daughter, Kim Strovas Lowry (Mike) of Kalama; a grandson, Matthew (Ashley) Lowry; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin Anthony and Emily Rose of Vancouver; four stepchildren, Leanne Strickland-Hill (Greg), Larry Strickland (Sandi), Robert Strickland (Vanessa), Nat Strickland (Leslie); 12 step-grandchildren who adopted him as their “Grandpa Tony,” Hannah, Eliza, Reese, Ella, Mia, Anika, Piper, Britta, Brice, Scott, Kyle and Cort; a sister, Betty Jean Strovas of Cardwell, Idaho; a brother, Leonard Strovas (Dani) of Burbank, Calif.; two nieces, Debra Strom Elmer (Michael) and Susan Cardwell Serta (Michael); two nephews, Lex Strom (Adeline) and Pat Cardwell (Mindy); as well as many Strovas cousins too numerous to list.