Charles Larry Strode

Charles Larry Strode went home to be with the Lord on February 19, 2022. He was born January 30, 1932 to William Lee Strode and Lola Beatrice (VanSyckel) Strode in London Mills, IL. His only brother Frank was tragically killed in 1967.

He graduated from Lewistown High School in 1950 and enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in Alaska and New Jersey. During this time, he married Marcy Hagaman in 1954. With this union they had two daughters, Debbie and Mary. After his discharge from service, he attended Tri-State College in Angola, IN and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He went to work at Sperry Gyroscope Corporation installing radar systems at military bases through 1972. This included Buckley Air Force Base. He then started his real estate career which lasted until 2002.

In December of 1988, he married Janet Plejdrup. Larry celebrated his 90th birthday on January 30th and celebrated his 34th wedding anniversary with Janet on New Year’s Eve. He loved his entire family, the United States Constitution, the American flag, and was a very patriotic man.

Larry was a man with many interests and passions. He had a life-long love of everything automotive. Larry owned, rebuilt and restored many Lincolns, Caddies, RV’s and even a Mazda RX7. Larry’s first car was not a Caddy or Lincoln but, a Strode hand built original. Larry pieced this vehicle together all on his own and proudly drove it around. He always said it wasn’t the prettiest car, but it was fast, he ended this story with the “brakes were not too good, I’ve always thought brakes were overrated.”

He is survived by his loving wife Janet (Catlett) Strode; daughters Mary Adams and Debbie Gibson; step-children Valerie (Michael) Plejdrup, Teresa Cobb, Scott (Flower) Plejdrup, Shane (Tonya) Plejdrup; grandchildren Brian Adams, Amanda Adams, Heather Adams, Karri (Kevin) Moorehouse, and Michael (Shelby) Gibson. Great-grandchildren Kaylee Gibson, Aiden Moorehouse, Brayden Gibson, Adeline Gibson, Kyleigh Adams, Cameron Adams, Avery Adams and Noah Adams.

A visitation for Charles will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Olinger Eastlawn Cemetery, 19600 East Smith Road, Aurora, CO 80011. A memorial service will occur Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 19600 East Smith Road, Aurora, CO 80011. A committal service will occur Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM, 19600 East Smith Road, Aurora, CO 80011.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Strode family.