Lydia K. Strong

Lydia K. Strong, of Marion, Texas passed away shortly after an accident in her home, on Friday, November 19, 2021 at the age of 67. Lydia was born on May 3, 1954, in Tayug, Pangasinan, Philippines to Teofilo and Rosario Parsaso. Lydia was one of 14 children. She married her husband Marvin, better known as Dean, on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1998. They truly enjoyed each other’s company and often watched old movies or shows together while eating desserts and drinking coffee. Dean adored Lydia’s beauty inside and out, and her sense of humor always had him chuckling. Lydia’s love for making food and baked goods was her specialty, and it filled her heart to keep her family fed and fully stocked. No one ever went hungry around Lydia. She was a homemaker most of her life but also helped manage the family locksmith business with her late husband Russell. Lydia became ill shortly after her Russell’s passing. She endured a great deal of pain, and struggled with many afflictions over the years, but the one thing that kept her going was the love for her family. Lydia lived for her grandchildren, and they made her so proud.

Lydia was preceded in death by her parents, Teofilo and Rosario Parsaso; late husband, Russell Ray Koehler, her former parents-in-law, Melvin and Melva Koehler, who treated her as one of their own. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Patricio, Felix, Rudolfo, Elvira, Celso, Angelo, and Orlando. She is survived by her husband, Marvin Dean Strong; siblings, Domingo, Rosie, Haydee, Arsenio, Juanita, and Belinda; son, Russell Robert Koehler and wife Sandra; daughter, Mishael Shelah Shadden and husband Trevor; daughter, Rachel Rae Rivera and husband Frank; step-son, James Strong and wife Roshan; step-daughter, Michelle Nolting and husband Jeremy; grandchildren, Apple and Quattro Rivera, Soren and Kassidy Shadden; step-grandchildren, Dean Strong and Brooklyn Nolting, Jalen and Jalisa Hudson, Julius Guillen, and Aislynn Preciado; step-great-grandchildren, Eliana and Maiah Hudson, Jesiah, Flow Elle, Amaru Collins; and numerous in laws, nieces, nephews, and other friends and relatives.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at Brooke Army Medical Center for the outstanding care they provided Lydia over the last 23 years, with special thanks to Dr. David Hayes who saved her life in 2004 after we had been told by others that she had no hope, and a very special doctor, her former Rheumatologist, Dr. Daniel Battafarano, for the care he provided her which so greatly improved her quality of life.

A visitation will be held Monday, December 13, 2021 from 5-9pm at Zoeller Funeral Home. The Funeral Services will be Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 11am, and the interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery at 1:15pm.