Francis Leroy Strack

Heading: Major Francis L. Strack (Veteran) Dateline: Taylors, SC Major Francis Leroy Strack, age 89, of 216 Stonington Way, Taylors, died January 23, 2008 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center Gibbs Cancer Center. Born in Washington, D. C. on January 1, 1919, he was the son of the late Albert Francis Strack and the late Mary Ann Caulder Strack. He was raised in Washington, D. C., where he graduated from McKinley Technical High School in 1938. He attended the University of Maryland from 1938 to 1940 and then worked for the U. S. Department of Agriculture and later the Internal Revenue Service in Washington. In May of 1941, he volunteered for the U. S. Army Air Corp and was sent to the U. S. Army flight school from which he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in October 1943. In December of 1943, he was assigned to overseas combat duty where he flew 300 combat missions and logged 600 hours of combat flying time in Burma, China, and India. He was the recipient of two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In May of 1945, he was assigned to fly General Jonathan M. Wainwright on a U. S. War Bond tour in the United States. In November of 1946, he was transferred to the Greenville Army Air Base which was later renamed Donaldson Air Force Base. In Greenville, he met Katherine Eugenia McCoy, and they were married in February of 1947. Following his marriage, Lieutenant Strack was assigned to duty with the Army of Occupation on the island of Kyushu, Japan. In September of 1947, all Army Air Corp pilots were transferred to the U. S. Air Force from which Mr. Strack retired in 1964 as a Major. In 1966, he took employment with Liberty Life Insurance Company in Greenville, SC, as a computer systems analyst where he worked until his retirement in February of 1984. Mr. Strack was a member of the Greenville Exchange Club, an active in Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the WWII 27TH Troop Carrier Squadron. Mr. Strack was a member of Taylors First Baptist Church where he was baptized at the age of 84. He was a member of the Co-Ed 27 Sunday School Class. He considered his Sunday school class as his extended family. He is survived by a brother, Robert Anthony Strack, of Niceville, Florida, a son Jeffrey Francis. Strack, of Crestview Florida, three daughters, Constance Annette Strack Hennett and husband, Dennis of Greer, Sally Lynn Strack Thompson and her husband, Wayne of Townville, SC, and Susan Katherine Strack Crocker of Greer, nine grandchildren, Paula Horak, Lisa Bower, Chad Ellis, Blair Zeimetz and her husband, Ken, Jeremy Ellis, Ashley Hoyle and her husband, Marc, Rick Thompson and his wife, Susan, Sarah Thompson, and Hailey Crocker and eight great-grandchildren. The family is at the home of Connie and Dennis Hennett at 119 Rubiwood Circle, Greer. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Taylors First Baptist Church Chapel, conducted by Dr. Jimmie Harley. Interment will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Chad Ellis, Jeremy Ellis, Steve McClure, Marc Hoyle, Ken Zeimetz, and Michael Ritchie. Honorary escort will be the Co-Ed 27 Sunday School Class of Taylors First Baptist Church. Visitation will be held 12:00-1:00 p.m. Saturday at Taylors First Baptist Church Chapel Gathering Space. Memorials may be made to Taylors First Baptist Church, 200 W. Main Street, Taylors, S.C. 29687. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com

Francis Leroy Strack

January 1, 1919 - January 23, 2008