Charles Gray Strum

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Florida Times-Union - (May/17/2009)
Charles Gray Strum STRUM Charles Gray Strum, 89, was ordered to duty in Heaven on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Capt. Strum was the son of the late Honorable Louie Willard and Ophelia Gray Strum. His sister Ophelia Strum Faulkner, brother Louie Willard Strum Jr, and son-in-law Donald Wadsworth McArthur, III predeceased him. He was born Sept. 23, 1919 in St. Petersburg, Fl and grew up in Jacksonville. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was a wonderful role model to his entire family. He enthusiastically shared his strong faith and successfully passed down his love of God and country Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mary Love McCall Strum, his daughters, Mary Love Strum McArthur and Carolyn Strum Houston(Clancy), his grandchildren, Katherine Love McArthur Athey(Whitfield), Donald Wadsworth McArthur IV, Susan Clark McArthur, Clarence Harold Houston III (Heather), Mary Love Houston, Carolyn Joanne Houston and Gray Strum Houston, his great grandchildren, William Whitfield Athey and Charles Wadsworth Athey, his brothers-in-law, John Goldwire McCall(Vicki), Frank Clark McCall(Eleanor), Guyton Bobo McCall(Jane), James Edward McCall(Jean) and many nieces and nephews. Capt. Strum was a 1936 graduate of The Bolles School. He was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy on Feb. 7, 1941, part of the first class to graduate early in anticipation of World War II. He reported for duty aboard the USS Pennsylvania, Flagship of the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor and was aboard during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. He conducted the first-ever zero-visibility radar controller shore bombardment in the Aleutian Islands. After receiving his wings in Pensacola in 1944 he became the Commanding Officer of the Black Cat Squadron at Sangley Point in the Philippines. Subsequently, he was promoted to Captain on April 1, 1960. He was ordered to duty as the Commanding Officer of the Pacific Fleet Typhoon Tracker, Naval Station Sangley Point, and Naval Air Technical Training Center, Jacksonville. He was then the Defense Attach and Naval Air Attach at the American Embassy in Rabat, Morocco. His final tour was Commanding Officer Naval Reserve Training Group, Miami and he retired Sept. 1, 1970. Capt. Strum then resumed residence in Jacksonville, Florida where he served 17 years at St. Marks Episcopal Church as Parish Administrator, Verger and computer coordinator. He was active with Westside Rotary, The Royal Order of Jesters, Ye Mystic Revelers, The Free Masons, Honey Dos, The Jacksonville Symphony, The Cummer Museum of Art, The English Speaking Union, and The Navy League. He was a member of The Florida Yacht Club, Epping Forest Yacht Club, The River Club and Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00pm Wed. May 20th at St. Marks Episcopal Church following a private family burial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Marks Episcopal Church, 4129 Oxford Ave Jacksonville, FL 32210 or The Westside Chapel, 4521 Shirley Ave, Suite 8, Jacksonville, FL 32210. Arrangements are under the direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 729 Edgewood Avenue. BEAT ARMY! Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com