- Date Of Birth: July 15, 1923
- Date Of Death: November 29, 2009
- State: Illinois
William Alfred Strong, 86, of Ottawa died Sunday, November 29, at St. Margarets Hospital in Spring Valley. Mr. Strong was born on July 15, 1923 in Sandwich to Robert A. and Perley (Walker) Strong. He was a graduate of Earlville High School and Knox College in Galesburg. He was an Army Veteran of WWII. He owned and operated a farm supply business, Strong and Strong with his brother, then Strong Chemical, for more than 48 years. He married Marjorie (Fitzgerald) Trowbridge on June 3, 1995 in St. Columba Church.
He was a member of St. Columba Church where he served as an usher, lector, and sang in the choir. He was a member and past-president of the Ottawa Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He was a long-time member of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of the Ottawa Ambassadors. He was a long-time member of the IVCC Board and the IVCC Endowment Board. He served on the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra Board, the Ryburn King (Ottawa Regional Hospital and Healthcare Center) Board of Governors.
He was a past member of the LaSalle County Board, a Past President of the Jaycees, the Reddick Mansion Board, the Ottawa Boat Club, and the Board of Deer Park Country Club. He was one of the founders of Illinois Trust and Savings Bank. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Ottawa Elks Lodge, and American Legion Post 33. Mr. Strong is survived by his wife, Marjorie, three sons, William (Kathy) of Ottawa, Steve (Judy) of Ottawa, Mark (Christine), of Aurora, 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Robert W. Strong of Earlville, and Louis Strong, of Sun City West, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his second wife Ethyl, and two sisters.
