Jesse. E. "Jake" Strother

Jesse E. "Jake" Strother, of Vancleave, age 87, passed away Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Jake was the father of three children, his son, Robert, and daughters, Susan and Mary Ann, and he had three grandchildren, Sean, Heather, and Haley. He was married to Irina Tolmatchova Strother for 45 years before she preceded him into the next life in 1999. He is also preceded in death by his father, Jesse Strother, his mother, Ella Johnson Strother, his brother, Russell Strother, and his sister, Genieve Dunn, all from Oakdale, Louisiana. Jake is survived by his wife, Diane Williams Strother, and her children, Gregory Hayes, Paula McElroy, and Carrie Vaughn, and three great-grandchildren. Following graduation from Louisiana State University in 1954, Jake entered the Air Force and served for twenty-one years, prior to his retirement in 1975. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. His assignments included command of an Air Force Management Engineering program at Headquarters USAF in Europe, and tours in the Air Force Institute of Technology program at Texas Tech and the University of Southern California. Jake also flew 150 combat missions in Vietnam during 1968 and 1969. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three air medals. Other decorations included two commendation medals. Subsequent to retirement from the Air Force, he was employed at Ingalls Shipbuilding for 17 years, before retiring from the Quality Assurance program in 1993. Jake was a member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church of Ocean Springs. Services will be held at the Christus Victor Lutheran Church of Ocean Springs Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Friends may visit one hour prior. Interment will be held Monday, August 6, 2018 with military honors at Biloxi National Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. The family would prefer donations be made to Christus Victor Lutheran Church or the Jackson County Animal Shelter. The Vancleave Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.