Olga Ann Nedbalek Strickland

Early Sunday morning, October 18, 2009, Olga Ann Nedbalek Strickland, 84, passed away at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown. She was born just outside of Port Lavaca, Texas on March 26, 1925, to Frank and Rosalie Pecena Nedbalek, who were natives of Czechoslovakia. When Olga was six years old, her family moved to Baytown, where she lived for the remainder of her life. In 1942, at the age of 16, she graduated from Cedar Bayou High School as the class salutatorian. February 16, 1944, she married Roy Milton Strickland. They were married for 31 years, until his death in August of 1975.

Olga was raised with a very strong work ethic. She would come home from school, and immediately start picking cotton out in the field with the rest of her family. Upon graduation from high school, she went to work for a retail store in downtown Baytown. For three years after marrying Roy, Olga worked for Humble Oil & Refinery in the Storehouse. However, on August 30, 1947, their son, Royce, was born and she left Humble for her true calling, motherhood. Seven years later she gave birth to their daughter, Candice, and their family was completed. She was quite happy in her career as a wife and mother, but after Roy suffered a major heart attack in 1966, she decided it would be better for the family if she returned to the workforce. That September, Bay Fair Department Store opened and she was one of the original employees hired. For the next 23 years, until the store closed its door, Olga handled the office duties for them. She retired at that time and spent the rest of her years doing what she did best, being a mother and grandmother.

Education was very important to her, and she made sure that her children realized its importance also. She was never too busy to help with their homework, and laid the groundwork for their future by teaching them to spell, making sure they knew their multiplication tables and teaching them to read before they ever started first grade. She enjoyed immensely her years at Cedar Bayou High School, and after their marriage, she and Roy remained avid Cedar Bayou football supporters until the school consolidated with Goose Creek ISD. Until her failing health prevented it, she attended every Cedar Bayou reunion that she could, cherishing the opportunity to catch up with old friends and laughing with them about shared memories.

When her health began to decline a few years ago, her son, Royce, and his wife Sheila, became her caretakers, eventually moving her into their home to take care of her full time. Candice and her family will never be able to adequately express their gratitude for the excellent care, love and compassion they gave to Olga, and for the peace of mind given to them, during her lengthy illness. Through their efforts, they gave Olga the one request she had made throughout her life - to never be placed in a nursing home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Rosalie Nedbalek, her husband, Roy Strickland, four sisters - Elsie Hlavaty, Millie Kubala, Lydie Gosch and Albina Jancalek; one brother - Frank Nedbalek; and four half-sisters - Frances T. Adam, Annie Kristynik, Agnes Holy and Vlasta Ulrich.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Royce Strickland and Sheila Moss of Highlands, her daughter and son-in-law, Candice and Paul Penny of Baytown; grandchildren - Misty and Ryan McKinley of Baytown, Stayton Powers of Houston and Austin Powers of Dallas; brother-in-law, Rayford Strickland and his wife, Lois, of Baytown; and step-grandchildren, Richard Penny and wife, Danielle, of San Diego, Ca; Denise Woodall and husband Buck of Baytown; and Robyn Rackley and husband Dean, of Baytown. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other family also survive.

Honoring the family as pallbearers will be Austin Powers, Stayton Powers, Ryan McKinley, Ronnie Hudson, Michael Bolinger and Milton Kubala.

An informal visitation will take place on Thursday, October 22, 2009, from 6 PM to 8 PM at Navarre Funeral Home. Olga was a long time member of Crosby Brethren Church, and her pastor, Rev. Larry Koslovsky, whom she had enormous admiration and respect for, will conduct the funeral service at 2 PM on Friday, October 23, 2009 in the chapel of Navarre Funeral Home. A private graveside service will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery later that afternoon.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all of those who have shown us such kindness, support and consideration in many ways, and for all of the prayers that have sustained us during this difficult time. We would also like to thank the many caregivers who treated her with care and respect and helped make the remainder of her life as comfortable as possible.

Arrangements are entrusted to Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas.