Jerry D. Stringfellow

Jerry Deane Stringfellow, 93, of West Lafayette, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at IU Health Arnett Hospital. He was born October 13, 1931, in Atlantic, Iowa, to the late Wayne Harris and Beth Edna (Parker) Stringfellow. Jerry graduated from Keokuk High School in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1949. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1956. Under the GI Bill, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Iowa in 1959. On June 3, 1951, he married the love of his life, Marilyn Joy Young, in Keokuk, Iowa. She preceded him in death on December 5, 2024. Jerry worked for GenCorp (formerly The General Tire and Rubber Company) for 35 years and retired in 1996 as Product Engineering Manager, Industrial Products Division. He was a proud member of the engineering team that designed the joint connection gasket for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Transbay Tube in the late 1960's. Jerry's life revolved around music. He learned to play the trumpet at an early age and landed his first "gigs" at age 12 during WWII, where he replaced the young GIs who had gone off to war. As a Staff Sergeant for the United States Air Force, he played trumpet in the 695th Air Force Band in Great Falls, Montana. During the course of his life, Jerry played in jazz bands, swing bands and big bands, most notably The Blue Notes, The Keynotes, Sophisticated Swing and The Fort Smith (Arkansas) Jazz Ensemble. He not only played trumpet but also sang vocals for The Starlighters. Additionally, he played trumpet in the Bob Crosby Band and several pit bands at McHale Auditorium in Logansport, Indiana and Wabash, Indiana. Later in life, he played trumpet for the Sons and Daughters of Keokuk Iowa celebration. Jerry also enjoyed fishing, snow birding in Venice, Florida, playing tennis, and watching Purdue and Iowa sports. A lifelong learner, he loved working with computers and tinkering with the latest technologies. Surviving are his children: Richard (Linda) Stringfellow of Morgantown, Indiana, James (Patricia) Stringfellow of Frankfort, Indiana, David (Terri) Stringfellow of Thornton, Colorado, and Julie (Bryan) Scott of Lafayette, Indiana; grandchildren: Keaton Stringfellow, Joshua (Catherine) Stringfellow, Jonathan (Alyssa) Stringfellow, Hannah Stringfellow, Grace Stringfellow, Brad (Kimi) Scott, Lee (Jenny Crump) Renshaw and Loranne (Justin) Ennis; great grandchildren: Delilah, Daphne, Daniel, Darcy, Emory, Cooper, Jackson, and Lenora. Jerry was preceded in death by two grandsons, Philip Stringfellow and Joseph Stringfellow. Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of West Lafayette, any AFM local union, The University of Iowa, Purdue University, the Lafayette Community Band, or the Kokomo Park Band.