Obituary of George Strickland

George V. Strickland, 77, of Jackson passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at Bartley Healthcare, Jackson. George was born in McColl, South Carolina, was raised in Whiteville, NC and lived in Pemberton, NJ before moving to Jackson in 1982. He had a 45 year career in aviation and aviation safety. He joined the United States Air Force at the age of 17 and served 21 years, with combat tours during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. After his retirement from the Air Force, he was employed as a program manager for accident prevention at JFK Airport. George was also an Aviation Safety Inspector for the FAA before retiring in 1996. He was a former flight instructor for Burlington County Airpark in Medford and was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, S. Joyce Testaverde Strickland; two daughters, Karen Tracy of Eastampton, NJ and Nancy Lynn Strickland of Charleston, SC; a son, Joseph W. Strickland of Metuchen, NJ; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; four sisters, Jessie Lee Russ of Whiteville, NC, Judy Kapu of Hawaii, Sarah Turner of Orlando, FL and Bonnie Ruth Hans of Las Vegas, NV; three brothers, Charles Strickland of Goose Creek, SC, Roderick Strickland of Fort Meyers, FL and R. W. "Billy" Strickland, Jr. of Conway, SC. Visiting at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 & 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at the funeral home on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 11:00 AM with the Rev. William Fredrickson, officiating. Interment to follow in the New Jersey Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in George's memory may be made to the "Paul Newman's Camp", The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, 555 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, to which George provided air transportation for sick children. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com