William A Stratton d 01 May 2012

STRATTON, PARKS, WILBANKS, ANDREWS

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 6/11/2012 at 14:16:19

Memorial services for William A. Stratton, 83, Hidden Valley Airpark, Denton, Texas, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 25, at the Shady Shores Baptist Church, Denton. He died May 1, 2012, at his home following a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Burial plans are pending.

William A. Stratton was born near Carnforth in Poweshiek County, the son of George and Gertrude Parks Stratton. A couple of years later, the family moved to a farm near Ladora. He attended Hartford Number Five country school and graduated from Marengo High School.

He lived most of his life in Texas. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy and was a Master Mason for over 40 years. He sailed all over the world as a Merchant Marine steamship engineer for 35 years. He attained the rating on chief engineer on steam turbine electric powered ships. He held FAA private, instrument and commercial licenses to fly single engine aircraft.

His last trip from Texas to Iowa was in his home-built aircraft in 2007 to visit family and friends in and around Marengo. Bill and his brother Everett were longtime motorcyclists and rode from Iowa to Texas several times.

Stratton is survived by his wife, Martha Stratton; one son, William Stratton Jr., Allen, Texas; one brother, Everett Stratton, Jasper, Texas; stepchildren, Maxie Wilbanks, Panorama City, Calif., and Marcia Andrews, Port Arthur, Texas, and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Susan; one brother, Dallas, and one sister, Mary Anne.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 24 May 2012, pg 13
Denton Record Chronicle