Billy Wayne Strickland, 76, of Tatum, TX, died on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2018, in Longview after a long illness. He was born March 3, 1942, in Winnfield, LA to the late James Harold and Viola Boone Strickland. Billy was the co-valedictorian of the 1960 class of Calvin High School, Calvin, LA and was known as a "spiffy" dresser by his classmates. In 1980, he graduated with a Diesel Mechanics Degree from Gulf Area Vocational Technical School, now South LA Community College, in Abbeville, LA. He served his country from 1964-1972 in the U.S. Air Force, training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX and Shepherd AFB, Wichita Falls, TX. He went on to serve at Pope AFB, NC, Istanbul, Turkey, and in the ROTC Department, at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He married Wanda Brantley on Nov. 26, 1965, in Raleigh, NC. He was a diesel mechanic and foreman in the fishing industry. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James E. Strickland.

Sadly missed by his survivors: his wife, Wanda B. Strickland; daughter, Kim Diane Visser; son, Kevin Scot Strickland and wife Christine; grandsons, Dirk J. Visser and Luke J. Visser; sister, Roxie S. Johnson and husband James; brother-in-law, Vernon W. "Bill" Brantley; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life gathering will be held from 10 a.m. - 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, at the Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home, 1131 State Hwy. 149, Carthage, TX. A private inurnment with military honors will be held at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville, LA.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Tatum United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1070, Tatum, TX 75691.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.