Robert E. "Bob" Strickler

Robert E. “Bob” Strickle r, 91, formerly of South Walnut Street, Lititz passed gently into the arms of his Savior on Friday, January 17, 2014 at Moravian Manor. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Harry A and Bessie Enck Strickler. He was the husband of the late Anne Hackman Strickler who died in 2006. Bob grew up in Hopeland, where he liked to fish and catch muskrats in the Cocalico Creek and take walks in the nearby hills. His first car was a 1927 Hupmobile with which he courted Anne, who he met at Seibert’s swimming hole. Bob graduated from Ephrata High School and proudly served four years with the First Division of the United States Marines on Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu during WW II. In 1950 he received a cost accounting degree from the McCann School of Business in Reading and began working for Shirks Motor Freight in Lancaster. Bob worked in the trucking industry until he retired as a claims adjuster for Yellow Freight in 1985. He was an active and faithful member of the Lititz Moravian Congregation, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, diener and assistant sacristan. Bob loved to sing.
In 1956 Bob and family moved to six acres in the country adjacent to Rudy Dam, where he lived until he and Anne moved into Lititz in 1994. Bob loved to garden, and with the help of a David Bradley garden tractor, and later a Troy-Built rototiller, he planted and tended a large garden every summer. His love of gardening and the outdoors were an inspiration to his family and friends, and they seldom found Bob without some outside work to do, and his signature pipe was usually with him as he went about his outdoor activities. After he retired, he and Anne traveled with Friendship Force to quite a few foreign countries, where they made many very special friends. Bob was a homebody at heart, but he was always glad to have made the trips once they were over.
Bob was a kind and gentle man who deeply loved his family and friends. He will be missed by all who came to know him.
Bob was a devoted father and grandfather and will be lovingly missed by his son, Timothy L. husband of Judy Bleiler Strickler of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a daughter, Laurie J. wife of M. Edward Ruth of Lititz, three grandchildren, Valerie wife of Faried Anwari, Heather wife of Philip Pattle, Eric Strickler, four great grandchildren, Arieana and Ryan Anwari, Emma and Henry Pattle, a brother, H. James Strickler of East Petersburg, a sister, Nancy wife of Ronald Mohler of Oregon., and a brother-in-law Warren Mease of Neffsville. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Mease.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service at Lititz Moravian Church, 8 Church Square, Lititz on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 12 Noon. Interment in the adjoining church cemetery. Friends may visit with the family at the church from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Please omit flowers. Those desiring may send contributions in Bob’s memory to Lititz Moravian Church, Book of Remembrance, 8 Church Square, Lititz, PA 17543 or Moravian Manor, Benevolent Care Fund, 300 West Lemon Street, Lititz, PA 17543.