James Adelbert Strang

James Adelbert "Dabo" Strang, 99, of Lavaca, was born November 23, 1918, on Shaver Road in Union, Arkansas, to Ernest Edgar Strang and Roxie Strang, and departed this life peacefully from his home January 8, 2018. A cattleman, community leader and former school teacher, James retired from the Social Security Administration and was a retired Senior Chief Petty Officer from the Naval Reserves. Following graduation from Lavaca High School, he farmed to pay his way through Arkansas Tech, then assembled B17's for Consolidated Aircraft in Long Beach, California. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, he enlisted in the Navy. He received training in electricity at Purdue University before being assigned to Brooklyn Navy Yard to await the construction of the destroyer USS Roe. After escorting three convoys in support of the North Africa and Sicily invasions, the Roe was transferred to Pacific duty, but he was reassigned and spent the rest of the war repairing the electronics on ships and subs at Balboa Point, Panama Canal Zone. While there, he developed a electric modification to the gyro-compasses that enhanced ships' navigation systems. After his release from the Navy in 1946, he completed his BSE and MSE in Vocational Agriculture at the University of Arkansas where he met and married Romalee Boyd of Mansfield, Arkansas. They were married 69 years until her death in 2016. Following graduation, James taught agriculture at Lavaca and purchased and built rental houses and raised beef cattle. Many of his students took the practical knowledge he taught them to become successful contractors, leaders, and businessmen. In 1956, he left full-time teaching to work for Social Security and joined the Naval Reserve. Being a community and state leader, James followed his father, Earnest, as a member of the Sebastian County Farm Bureau where he served for 40 years. While on the Board, he served as Sebastian County President for many years, and on the state Board of Directors for several terms. He loved promoting and supporting agriculture, education, leadership, and our God given freedoms. James was a committed Christian who lived out his faith in Jesus Christ by being kind, faithful, longsuffering, and giving toward others. He was a servant and served others all his life, regardless of cost to himself. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, an infant son, Howard Glenn Strang, two brothers, and two sisters. He is survived by two sons, Lynn David Strang (Enola) of Lavaca and Paul Strang (Alisa) of Fairfield Bay; one daughter, Sharon Jones (Davey) of Ico; five sisters, Exine Bellamy of Round Rock, Texas, Nadine Hardin Miller (Bob) of Fort Smith, Gelene Woody (Harold Lee) of Sherman, Texas, Ernestine Cuthbert (Tom) of Greenwood, and Earlene Gilson of Fort Smith; two brothers, Harley Strang (Norma) of Fort Smith, and Billy Joe Strang (Freda) of Uniontown; eight grandchildren, David Christian Strang, Caitlyn Voss (Jason), Lauren Strang, Jonathan Strang, Daniel Strang, Makala Strang, J. W. Jones, and Chris Jones; one great-granddaughter, Holland Voss; and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends 6PM to 8PM Thursday, January 11 at Smith Mortuary in Charleston, Arkansas. Funeral service will be held 10 AM Friday, January 12, at Smith Mortuary Chapel, burial will follow at Lavaca City Cemetery under the direction of Smith Mortuary Charleston, Arkansas. Memorials may sent to Lavaca United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 287, Lavaca, AR 72941.