Reginald Lloyd Strout Sr.

Reginald Strout Sr., 91 of Arcadia passed away last Wednesday, Feb 26, 2025. He was born in Standish, Maine on March 18,1933.

He was a wonderful man. He fought in the Korean War at 18. By 19 he had 2 bronze stars and a Purple Heart. He was classified as POW/ MIA. He came home from that war a changed man. Scars on both the inside and outside. He was declared permanently disabled. Our father would not sit still for the idea of never working again. He married our mom Annie King and went back to school. He got his high school diploma and an electricians vocational certification. After finishing school, they moved to Florida.

He eventually joined the IBEW and worked many years as a journeyman electrician.  He was very proud of how hard he worked. My mother and him had four children and were married 49 years before she passed away in 2003. In 2004, our father reconnected with Merle Zelenak, the widow of his IBEW coworker, Bob Zelenak. They were partners for the rest of his life.
He was a kind, funny, generous, brave, honest, lovable, hardworking man.
Our father was an avid collector/restorer of antique cars. He spent many years going to antique car shows with our mother and his children and grandchildren. His favorite show was a Packard show in southwest Florida.

Our father had 3 daughters Connie (Terry Tawney), Roxanne (Gerald McPherson), and Heidi Collins (Mark Collins), 1 son, Reginald Jr.. He had 6 grandsons Steven Tawney, Michael Tawney (Nicole Tawney), Andrew McPherson (Mallory Lehua),
Clayton Collins (Amy Collins), Trey Strout, Ethan Collins. 3 granddaughters, Katelynn McPherson Tonkin (Erik Tonkin), Kendall Collins, Ryleigh Collins. 2 great-grandsons Mason Tawney, Jon Tonkin. 4 great-granddaughters Maliya Tawney, Ann Tonkin, Isabelle McPherson, Blakelyn Collins.
At the end of his life our dad had Alzheimer's. He was very happy anytime we visited him. He was always talking about his brothers and sisters. (All of which passed before him.) His first question was always something like: "Hey did you see Raymond out there?" Our responses was always: "yep I saw him, he'll be right back he just went to the store for a drink."  or something similar.These responses always made him happy and he would proceed to talk on about some memory from years past about one family member or another.
Alzheimer's stole his freedom to live on his own, but he did enjoy flirting with all the ladies in his final home.  He would travel down the hall and kiss almost every lady we walked by. He was quite the ladies' man all the way to the end.

Private graveside funeral services will be held on Thursday March 6, 2025, at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell Florida.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in memory of Mr. Reginald Strout be made to VA Skilled Nursing Facility
21281 Grayson Terrace Port Charlotte, Fl. 33954

Attn: Danielle McGee Admissions Coordinator please ask that your gift be given to Activities
Department

Online condolences can be made at www.pongerkaysgrady.com