- Date Of Birth: August 22, 1929
- Date Of Death: April 14, 2017
- State: Pennsylvania
Richard Lee “Dick” Strain, age 87, of Palmer Township, Northampton County, passed away peacefully on Friday April 14, 2017 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was the loving husband of Eva Mae (Sharp) Strain with whom he shared 65 years of marriage.
Born August 22, 1929 in Lamar, Colorado, he was the son of the late Frank E. and Alma A. (Wentz) Strain. Dick was a graduate of the University of Colorado in 1951 where he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and was a member of the Eta Kappa Nu honorary fraternity. He worked for General Electric for 22 years in various sales and management positions in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan before moving to Bethlehem to become the General Manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. In 1986, Dick was elected to the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as the Executive Director until retiring in 1994. He served in the US Army during the Korean War. Dick was a life-long NY Yankees fan and RV enthusiast. He served in several community and business organizations including United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Muhlenberg Hospital Center, the Minsi Trail Council of the Boy Scouts where he earned the Silver Beaver Award, the Private Industry Council and Lehigh Valley Industrial Park . He also served as President of Rotary, as a Director of KNBT Bank and on the board of Meals On Wheels of Northampton County.
Survivors: He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Eva, sons, Larry and his wife Sue of Florida, Timothy of Palmer Township, and David and his companion Evelyn Ort of Bethlehem, grandchildren Rusty Strain and Stephanie Sparr and great-grandchildren Elias Cintron and Landon Strain. He was predeceased by his brother Donald.
APR 21. 1:00 PM (EDT)
Wesley United Methodist Church
2540 Center Street
Bethlehem, PA
