Verne C. Strible

Mom and Dad were both born in Baltimore, Md. on March 27, 1921, Mom being a few hours older than Dad. Dad’s parents were Ferdinand C. and Lila R. (Dooley) Strible. He had an older brother Ferdinand C. Strible, Jr. and a younger sister, Mary Margaret Strible. Life in Baltimore was joyous until the stock market crash of 1929. The years went by, and even though they were both in the same vicinity in Baltimore suburbs, Mom and Dad did not meet until 1940, when Mom’s sister Evelyn set them up on a blind date. Not long thereafter, a wedding on their birthdays was planned for March 27, 1942, but the December 7, 1941 attack at Pearl Harbor moved up the nuptials to December 20, 1941, as Dad was going to be drafted.

His military service began Jan 16, 1943, 2 ½ months after their first child, Saundra Lee, was born. When Dad went to Infantry Basic Training, Thelma and Sandy moved in with her parents, Tom and Marguerite Clough, at their farm named Happy Acres on Manor Rd. in Phoenix MD, a northern suburb of Baltimore. Dad served near Paris for 30 months. His Separation papers state he was a “Cannoneer served with the 480th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion in the European theatre of operations, participating in two major campaigns. Had charge of range section of 40mm mobile gun. Made minor repairs on the range director, and range power plant. Figured out systematic plan for concentrated and barrage fire of several guns for designated area. Was familiar with the duties of all gun crew members.” His date of separation was Dec 17, 1945. Dad told stories of leaving France in a bare box car, with other buddies going home. Unfortunately, I don’t remember how he got back to the United States. But when he did, his wife and by now 2 year old daughter flew into his arms.

Home from the war, Dad used the G.I. Bill to earn a college degree at the academically prestigious Johns Hopkins University. Upon graduation, he moved his soon to be growing family to Buffalo NY after accepting a position as a mechanical engineer at The Linde Division of the Union Carbide Corporation. Three more children followed, all boys: Verne Clarke“Skip” Jr., Steven Charles and Jeffrey Blair. Life in suburban Buffalo was grand even in the midst of hard economic times nationwide. Verne & Thelma doted on their 4 children until Florida retirement living beckoned in the Tampa Bay Area, where they moved in 1983. True to form, eventually three of their kids followed their loving parents one by one to the Florida sunshine. Dad loved golf, hosting family and friends at their lovely Florida home, and the game of Bridge, at which he excelled. After a wonderful 20 years in their Largo home, a carefree lifestyle at Freedom Square Retirement Community ensued. Dad had to be “convinced “ moving to Freedom Square was the best thing to do, but we believe it’s not really all that ironic he became one of its most beloved residents of all time. It’s because of who he was, a really GREAT GUY willing to help anyone, any way & any how!

After a 10-day hospitalization at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater FL, Dad died May 7, 2020 of Covid-19. Prior to his hospitalization, he was a resident of Freedom Square Nursing and Rehabilitation. Survived by daughter Saundra Curry (Keith) of Palm Harbor FL; son Verne C. (Skip) Strible, Jr. of Buffalo, NY; son Steven Charles of Largo FL; and son Jeffrey Blair (Lorie Castle), Seminole FL. Dad had five grandchildren: Keith Kraska (Laurie) Elmira NY, and Lisa Kraska, Lackawanna NY (Sandy’s kids); Heather Strible Slipko (Christopher) Buffalo NY, Jaime Strible Applegate (Shaun) Tonawanda NY, and Jonathan Strible (Kristine), Amherst NY (Skip’s kids); and nine great-grandchildren: Audrey, Elias, Cecilia and Faye Slipko; Morgan, Vera and Eleanor Applegate; Maris and Theo Strible; cousins, nieces and nephews, and his special friends Florence Murray, and Veve and Neil Creekmore.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Thelma Marguerite, nee Clough; his parents Ferdinand and Lila Strible, his brother Ferdinand C. Strible, Jr, and wife Patricia; and his sister Mary Strible Gibson and husband Glenn.

Ours was a close-knit family. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him!