Bryan Dalton Strickland

Bryan Dalton Strickland, 86, of Montgomery, Alabama, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 11, 2025. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1938 to J.B. and Julia Strickland. After graduating from Shades Valley High School, he attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a B.S. degree in General Business in 1962.

He was commissioned as a distinguished military graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and entered active duty in May 1962. He won his pilot wings in June 1963 after completing pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. For the next 30 years, he served in a series of flying and leadership assignments, notably including 141 combat sorties in the F-4D aircraft during the Vietnam War. He was promoted to colonel in 1981and served in a series of leadership positions until his retirement as Vice-Commandant of the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery in1992. Bryan will be remembered for his positive attitude and matching smile.

He had a lot to smile about. He was salutatorian of his high school class and named its Most Outstanding Student. In college he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) and was on the Dean’s List for Academic Performance; selected for three scholastic honor societies; and was named in Who’s Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities in both 1962 at Alabama and in 1994 at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). Graduating from Alabama as a Distinguished Military graduate, he was awarded a regular rather than reserve officer commission. As he entered active duty and while in pilot training in Laredo AFB, Texas, he was blessed to marry his college sweetheart, Charlotte Elizabeth Stallings of Sylacauga, Alabama, who, in turn blessed their family with three wonderful daughters.

In his Air Force career, he was happy to survive 100 combat missions over Vietnam and 41 more over other unfriendly areas. He was promoted to colonel two years early. After retirement he completed a Masters in Education degree at AUM, and he and Charlotte then taught school for a year at Christiansen Academy, a school for Missionary Kids in Rubio, Venezuela.

In the year 2000, he and Charlotte purchased their first motor home and began a series of adventures in the USA and Canada, and for the next 23 years, they spent every winter RVing in Key West, Florida. Bryan did have a lot to smile about! It was a great life, only to be surpassed by the new life he is now enjoying, thanks to the grace of God.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Charlotte; daughters Allison Ricketts (Greg), Leslie Elizabeth Kline (Jeff), and Sandra Smith (Kevin); three grandchildren, Andy, JT, and Adam White; four step-grandchildren, Kristopher Ricketts, Shannon Wehner (Ross), Josh Kline (Hailey) and Kyrie Kline, and step-great-grandson Jackson Kline.

Visitation with the family and Memorial Service will be conducted on March 17, 2025, at Frazer Free Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL, 36117 at 10 a.m. (visitation) and 11 a.m. (service).

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to any of the churches that Bryan attended and loved: Frazer Free Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama (General Missions Fund); Key West United Methodist Church in Key West, Florida; and Pleasant City Church in Shelby, North Carolina.