Olan R. Strickland

Olan R. Strickland, of Mount Dora, passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2012, of natural causes. Born on July 1, 1927 in Lockhart, Alabama, Mr. Strickland was the son of the late James W. and Ransy Strickland. He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters. Survivors include his wife Janet R. Strickland of Mount Dora, daughter Karen Rae of Elon, North Carolina, son Steven Ray and daughter-in-law Debra of St Louis, Missouri. Mr. Strickland is also survived by four grandchildren, Grant and Blair DeRoo of Elon, North Carolina, Jenna Gracia of Downingtown, Pennsylvania and Samantha Strickland of St Louis, and a great granddaughter Kaylee Rae Gracia. He is also survived by a half-sister Mary Jo Davis of Brewton, Alabama. Mr. Strickland served in the U.S. Navy for three and a half years in the latter part of World War two and was honorably discharged. Upon his return to civilian life he was employed by Patuxent River Naval Air Station Maryland as a Crash Rescue Firefighter. In 1957 he was transferred to McCoy Air Force Base Florida as an Assistant Fire Chief for The Strategic Air Command and was subsequently promoted to Deputy Chief and then to Chief . Upon the closure of McCoy Air Force Base in 1974 he became a Deputy Fire Chief for the city of Orlando and in 1977 and accepted the position of Fire Chief for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority which he held for twenty years until his retirement in 1997. Mr. Strickland had multiple accomplishments throughout his career. He was a co-founder and first Commander of American Legion Post 274 in Lusby Maryland and Secretary Treasurer of the American Legion Southern Maryland District. He was also a past Secretary Treasurer, Vice President, and President of The Central Florida Fire Chiefs Association. During his tenure with the Air Force he established a Junior Fire Marshal Program and published a Junior Fire Marshal Manual for the young dependents of Air Force Families. Most notably Mr. Strickland was awarded the Department of the Air Force Command Civilian Medal For Valor for his supervisory performance at the major crash of a B-52 Bomber on Good Friday March 31, 1972. A viewing will be held at Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, 2811 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, on Thursday, October 4, from 10:00am until time of funeral service at 11:00am. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, FL. In Lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at www.firehero.org or PO Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. Please make sure to include “in memory of Olan Strickland” with any donations. Please visit www.careyhandcolonialfh.com to offer condolences.