Obituary of Kenneth W. Strickler

Kenneth W. Strickler, 89, of 178 Aldren Ave., formerly of Lakewood, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2015 in his home. He was born March 20, 1926 in Avalon, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and was a son of the late William E. and Ruth Aughenbaugh Strickler. Ken graduated from Peabody High School in 1944, was a World War II US Army veteran serving from 1944 until 1946, and received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949. He began his working career as a sales representative for Royal Typewriter in Pittsburgh from 1949 to 1954. Ken then purchased the William A. Long Typewriter Co. in Jamestown in 1954. In 1970, the business name was changed to Ken Strickler, Inc., relocated to West Third St. and was owned and operated by Ken until the business was sold in 1976. He then began his association with area banking and from 1993 to 1995 was a member of the Founding Group of Jamestown Savings Bank. He served as Chairman of the Board of Jamestown Savings until his retirement. Ken's business, civic and community involvement was extensive, having held offices, chairmanships and directorships with many area organizations. Among them, he was a founder and served as first President of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, as well as a Director and Past Chairperson of the Fredonia College Foundation. Throughout the years, Ken was a member of numerous clubs and service organizations in the region and belonged to First Presbyterian Church. Ken enjoyed music, travel, tennis, golf, boating and spending summers at Van Buren Bay on Lake Erie. Surviving is Ken's wife of 64 years, the former Lois Fahnestock whom he married June 30, 1951; a daughter, Jeannie A. Strickler of Jamestown; a son, Douglas W. (Jana Henson) Strickler of Bowling Green, KY; two granddaughters, Kristina (Jay) Jackson and Courtney Strickler, both of Lincoln, NE; a great-grandson, Cub Jackson of Lincoln; and three nephews, Robert Jr., William and Richard Goehring. He was preceded in death by a sister, Margory Goehring and a brother, William Strickler, Jr. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 15th in First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Robert J. Hagel, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in the Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Friends will be received in Fellowship Hall of the church following the service Monday. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation's Fund For The Region, 418 Spring St.; or First Presbyterian Church's Samaritan Fund, 509 Prendergast Ave., both Jamestown, NY 14701.