Earl Blake Strang, Jr.

Click the link below or copy and paste into your browser to watch the livestream on Thursday at 11 AM. https://livestream.funeralscreen.com/fred-jenkins-funeral-home/earl-b-strang-jr/ Earl Blake Strang, Jr. 74, of Gum Springs Road, formerly of Ridgedale Road, passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021 with his family by his side. He was born in Sleepy Hollow off Grafton Road on the old Shaffer place, son of the late Earl B. Strang, Sr. and Virginia Edith Austin Strang. Earl and his best friend, Gary Burch, joined the Navy together after graduating from Morgantown High School in 1965. They went to boot camp in Great Lakes, Michigan. Earl was stationed in Davisville, Rhode Island as a proud member of the US Navy Seabees. He was in NMCB 7 and spent two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966-1967 and 1968-1969. Earl was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 306 in Morgantown, Disabled American Veterans in Fairmont, National Seabee Veterans of America Island 3 in Pittsburgh, PA, and VFW Post 548 in Morgantown. Earl worked for University Supply and Pass Inc. He retired from Laboratory Corp. of America in Fairmont. Earl is survived by his wife of 51 years Carol Marshall Strang; son Jeremy Wade Strang and companion Janet Ann Keaton with whom they made their home after his father became ill. Beautiful and loving granddaughters Madison Lauryl Strang and boyfriend Zachary Polen of Jacksonville, FL and Megan Tayler Strang at home. Also surviving are his brothers-in-law, James Marshall and wife Nancy (Berkshire) of Bruceton Mills; Richard Marshall and wife Dianne (Reeves) of Rising Fawn, GA; Roger Marshall and wife Brenda (Schoonover) of Grafton Road. Surviving sisters-in-law include Sue (Marshall) Chipps of Bruceton Mills; Lisa (Marshall) Austin and husband Dave of Grafton Road. Earl is also survived by his mother-in-law, Wilma Jean (Criss), his faithful four-legged friend, Lucy and his best friends, Gary and Tewana (Anderson) Burch of Grafton Road. In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his brother Charles Earl Strang, sister Dorotha Lee (Strang) Keener, grandson Gabriel Blake Strang, and maternal grandparents Charles A. Austin and Etta J (Costello) Austin. The family would like to thank UHC/WVU Hospice staff, especially Amy, Trish, and Libby, for all their wonderful care; CBOC in Westover; Louis A. Johnson Veterans Hospital and the Home-Based Primary Care Team; Meghan Leber from Amedisys; his extended family, buddies and wives; and the staff and buddies at the Morgantown Vet Center, where he attended group faithfully on Tuesday evenings until his illness no longer allowed. Friends will be received at the Fred Jenkins Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, from 2 – 4 PM & 6 – 8 PM and again on Thursday from 10 AM until time of services at 11 AM. Earl would want everyone to wear their favorite t-shirt and jeans if attending. He will be laid to rest at the Halleck Cemetery with military honors conducted by the US Navy and Local Morgantown and Westover VFW Posts 548, 9916 and VVA Chapter.