Sterling J. Strate

Lt. Colonel Sterling J. Strate (Ret.) passed away on August 1, 2012. He was born on July 2, 1917, in Spring City, Utah. He was Student Body President at Brigham Young University. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business at Brigham Young University and a Masters Degree in Economics at Stanford University. He was a squadron leader of P-61 Black Widow Night Fighters in the Japanese Theatre during World War II. He also helped develop the partial pressure suits and ejection seat programs for the Chief Flight Surgeon, USAF. He helped develop the survival guide for downed pilots. He served 32 years in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1966. The family traveled throughout Europe and the Holy Land, returning to El Paso in 1967. He sold Real Estate for 2 years and then taught driver’s education through Region XIX for 15 years. He enjoyed golf and was an avid tennis player. Sterling is survived by his wife, Florence, three children, Eric Strate and wife Laurel, of Mesa, Arizona, David Strate and wife Brenda, of El Paso and Nancy Thyfault and husband Brook, of El Paso as well as 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Neva Thomas of Provo, Utah and Anna Lee Mercer of Lebanon, New Hampshire. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm Monday, August 6, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Funeral Service will be held at 9:30 am Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Interment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with full military honors. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net