William Thomas Strother

William Thomas (Tom) Strother was born on August 20th, 1925 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of James French Strother and Zoe Nesbit Strother, younger brother to James French Strother (deceased, wife Patricia (deceased), and daughter Jan). Tom was 89 when he died peacefully in Baltimore on March 4th. At his side were his loving wife of 63 years, JoAnne Ryan Strother, his son Jay (Ruthie), daughters, Anne Holmes (Jim), Emily Brown (Larry), Jody McIlmail (Tim) as well as his son-in-law, John Dierkes whose wife, Tom's daughter, Ellen passed away in November. Tom was proud of being an Eagle Scout at the age of thirteen. The scout's merits of citizenship, communications, camping, cooking, and a love of family life were instilled early on and present throughout his life. Tom went on to graduate from Texas A&M in 1947. After graduating, he joined the armed services as a teacher in the parachute division. After serving, he worked for National Theater Supply before joining the Union Carbide Corporation. While traveling for his work, he met his future wife, Joanne Ryan, a stewardess for American Airlines. His employment with Union Carbide gave his family the ability to live in various places throughout the United States. While based in New England, Tom oversaw the South American electrode division for several years before he and JoAnne moved to Pittsburgh in 1976. Even though he was born in Texas, he made Pittsburgh his home. The Valleybrook Club in Pittsburgh cultivated his love for golf and cooking, and served as Tom's favorite venue to watch his children compete in swim meets and golf. All four of Tom's daughters celebrated their marriages at the Club. Tom had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and history. He was very interested in genealogy. He researched the Strother family and was a member of the Strother Society and the Jamestown Society. Every other year he would make the trip to Virginia to meet with the full Strother clan. Thanks to Tom's research and diligence, all children and grandchildren know the full lineage of the Strother family, back to its grandfather-fabled roots at the Knights of the Round Table. His appetite for knowledge was made apparent in his life-long love for reading, and later, his interest in computers. Tom could be found taking courses at CCAC Boyce Campus, studying the latest computer technology. He would gleefully pass along all new finds and information to his friends and loved ones. More than anything, Tom loved his family. He was so proud of his five children, their loving spouses, and his 11 grandchildren: Jay, Bobby and Lynnie Strother, Emily and Carly Dierkes, Connor and Kenzie Brown, and Zoe, Claire, Fiona and Ferris McIlmail. He and JoAnne had just moved to Ellicott City Maryland to be closer to the grandchildren. The family takes great peace in knowing that two angels are watching over them and that father and daughter, Ellen, have been reunited in heaven. Tom will be buried in Prospect Cemetery, Townsend Maryland. Anyone who wishes to make a donation in Tom's name can do so to Swim Across America, a national organization for cancer research. Memorial services will be determined at a later date.