Robert accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and served as a junior usher for many years. He united with Mount Olive Baptist Church on April 15, 1995 and attended faithfully until his health challenges in 2018.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. He was a Vietnam veteran, serving there from December 1967 to December 1968. During his time of service, Robert received a National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14) and Expert (Rifle M-16) awards.
He married the love of his life, Janis Williams, on March 23, 1973 and their son, DeMarcus, was born in 1985.
Robert retired as an aircraft mechanic in 2005 after a career of 40+ years at Vought (a.k.a. LTV) Aircraft Industries.
Robert was a TV sports fanatic. He watched all types of sports.
He loved his wife and son dearly, but he L-O-V-E-D his grandchildren and they reciprocated that love.
Survivors: loving wife of 47 years, Janis Williams Strickland; son, DeMarcus Strickland; grandchildren, Michelle, Jeremiah, Jasmine, and Skylar Strickland; step-mother, Evelyn Strickland of Flint, Michigan; siblings, Carolyn Jackson (LuJuan), Brenda Thames, and Annette Strickland of Flint, Michigan, and Isaac Jackson, Jr., and Fred Jackson of Camden, Arkansas; aunt, Mary Strickland Criss; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, Williams Elementary School family of Arlington, Texas, church family and friends.