Obituary of William "Bill" F. Strate

RUSSELL – William "Bill" F. Strate, age 88, of Russell, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at home. William "Bill" F. Strate was born on September 28, 1926 in Syracuse, NY, a son of the late Alonzo and Beatrice (Brundage) Strate. He grew up in Russell and graduated from Knox Memorial High School, Russell, in 1945. Bill served in the United States Army from 1945 until he was honorably discharged in 1947. He had his security training at Fort Knox and served in Frankfort, Germany, with the Army Signal Corp. A marriage to Eileen Wheeler ended in divorce. Mr. Strate had been a heavy equipment operator for J & L Steel, Star Lake, from 1952 until his retirement in 1978, after 27 years of service. Bill operated all kinds of construction vehicles over the years. He spent most of his career at J & L driving truck and after retiring from there he drove school bus for Knox Memorial School and, later, the Edwards Knox High School. A talented singer and guitarist, Bill loved music. He sung in several barbershop quartets for many years. He was a member of the Canton Goldenaires, the Lamp Light Quarters, and the Four Knox Men. Mr. Strate had even written a poem (and later turned into a song), "Where Eagle's Fly", for Knox Memorial High School when his daughter was a senior. The school has used his song over the years for ball games and also once in a yearbook. Bill loved the outdoors. He liked to hunt and fish. When he was younger, he enjoyed playing baseball, which gave way to men's softball leagues when he was out of school. Mr. Strate was a lay minister, along with Marilyn Constatine, for the Edwards United Methodist Church from 2003 through 2008. He was a charter member of the Russell Fire Department as well as a member of the Am Vets in Dekalb and the VFW and American Legion in Gouverneur. Among his survivors are a son and daughter-in-law, Barry A. and Sue Strate of Canton, a daughter and her companion, Vickie L. Strate and Greg Locke of Russell, a sister-in-law, Priscilla Strate, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with one on the way. Bill is also survived by his longtime companion, Connie Dygert. He is predeceased by his parents, a brother, Frederick Strate, and two sisters and a brother-in-law, Fern, and Katherine and Lynde Ostrander. Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Edwards on Sunday, December 21, 2014 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. His funeral will be on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Edwards United Methodist Church with Worship Leader Lori Hickey officiating. Burial will be in the South Russell Cemetery, Russell. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Russell Fire Department to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley.