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Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 9:56 AM

William Edward Strickland III

BYRON, Ill. — William Edward Strickland III, 72, of Port Byron, Ill., formerly of Athens, Ga., died unexpectedly Friday, October 7, 2022 at Unity Point Health—Trinity, in Rock Island, Ill.

Services will be private. Memorials may be made to the Christian Appalachian Project. Gibson-Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron is in care of the arrangements.

Bill was born May 2, 1950, in Reidsville, Ga., the son of William E. Strickland, Jr. and Alice (Peeples) Strickland.

William Edward Strickland III, a man among men whether you knew him as Bill, Billy, Strick, or the occasional use of his dad’s nickname, “Big Strick,” he was the same man. Fiercely protective of family, friends and those who God placed in his path, he lived by an unwavering sense of right and wrong that yielded only to love and mercy. His warmth of personality and heart were known and cherished by all who knew him.

“We love, because He first loved us.”

— John 4: 19

Those of us who knew him best would describe him with one word — love. His capacity for love and sacrifice, modeled for him by his mother and father, was truly born of the Holy Spirit. A faithful man who loved the Lord, his faith was not rooted in high theology or deep doctrine. His was an innocent and pure faith that he no longer needs, as he is face to face with the One in whom that faith rested.

He passed into eternity while still living with the love of his life, having held her in his heart for 68 years, since the age of four. Together they had moved to Illinois for the only reason that could pull him from his beloved Georgia, to be with his sons. At the time of his passing, he was with his youngest son — exactly where he would have chosen to be.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sandra; sons, Ward “Skipper” (Jennifer) Strickland, Davenport, Iowa, William E. Strickland IV (Laura), East Moline, Ill.; grandchildren, Alexandra, Christopher and Joshua Strickland, and Shannon (Lucila), William E. V and Angus Strickland; brothers, Henry (Patsy) Strickland and James (Pat) Strickland of Waycross; as well as many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com.


William Edward Strickland III

William Edward Strickland III


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