James Robert Strain PhD, 91, passed away on August 11, 2016. Bob was born to James Strain and Gladys Kersey Strain on February 20, 1925 in Greencastle, Indiana. Dr. Strain served in the US Army for two years. He graduated with a BS and MS degree from Purdue University and a PhD from Oregon State College. Bob worked for 19 years as a Dairy Marketing Specialist for Iowa State University. In 1976 he moved his family to Gainesville, FL and was an Agricultural Economist at the University of Florida in the Food and Resource Economics Department for 14 years. Dr. Strain was a member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Throughout his life he was a member of The Athenaeum Club, NARFE, Alpha Zeta, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents, Gamma Sigma Delta, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Gainesville Community Band, and the Santa Fe Brass Ensemble.
Dr. Strain is survived by his loving wife, Carroll Bagshaw Strain, daughters, Patricia (Bryan) Foster of Cedar Falls, IA, and Sharon (Ben) Strain Womack of Pensacola Beach, FL, brothers, Carl (Verdeen) Strain, and Edwin Strain, sister, Mary June Strain Ross, and two granddaughters, Sarah (Cameron) Zigtema, and Laura (Wesley) Bryant.
A visitation will be held at Chapel in The Meadows Mausoleum, 4100 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32606 on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 10:30am, funeral service at 11:30am and burial immediately to follow. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, American Heart Association / American Stroke Association 1101 Northchase Parkway, Suite 1 Marietta, GA 30067-6411 or http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Gainesville, FL, (352)378-2528.
