Kenneth Richard Strawberry

Kenneth Richard Strawberry,93 died August 18 after a long illness. He was born in Uniontown, PA., graduated from St. John High School in Uniontown, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, earned a Masters Degree in Psychology from The American University. Following Graduate School he entered the US Navy assigned to The Medical Services as a psychologist at the Bainbridge Naval Recruitment Training Center. After completing his military service he was employed as a psychologist by the US Public Health Service, assigned to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In 1962 he accepted a position with the US Department of State, where he met Wilma. They were married in 1966. Among his many assignments he had oversight of Freedom of Information requests from the press and elected officials, special assistant to several political appointees, he was the Department of State Liaison with the Johnson Administration "Buy America" program, Special Assistant to the Medical Director. His final assignment was to develop a program to train employees to react and survive any emergency situation, including a terrorist attack. In his spare time during these years Ken researched to locate where a radio license was available. He then applied to the FCC to get the license and build a station. He built at least five stations. The last one was in Wilmington, NC which became Carolina Christian Radio.
Following retirement in 1995 Ken and Wilma moved to Wilmington, NC. Since retirement Ken has devoted much of his time to community and charitable service. He has served as a local and state official of the NC Federation of Chapters of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). He served as a member of the Cape Fear Community College Foundation Board as well as a director of a community credit union.
Ken is survived by his wife Wilma of Wilmington, NC, one sister, Shirley Fleming of Chestertown, MD, two nephews, Dr. Carl William Strawberry of Morganton, NC, Ronald Ian Fleming of Pawtucket, RI, one niece Heather Fleming of Greenville, SC, one great nephew Brian Strawberry of Raleigh, NC and one great niece Laura Strawberry of Spartanburg, SC as well as a great great nephew Cameron Strawberry.
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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 29403. 910-791-9099