Richard Strachan

Richard “Barry” Strachan passed away in Peoria, AZ on October 31, 2022. He was born near Philadelphia, PA in 1941. He is pre-deceased by his parents David J. Strachan, Marion Kerr Strachan, and brother David J. Strachan Jr. Barry was raised in Media, PA, and during his junior year, he moved with his parents to Union Lake, MI where he graduated from Walled Lake Central High School. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgy at Michigan Tech University in Marquette, MI. He pursued his master’s degree at Lawrence Technology University in Human Relations. Richard served in the US Air Force in intelligence during the Vietnam War working in Taiwan where he decoded Chinese radio chatter while tracking enemy aircraft. After the fall of Vietnam, he obtained an honorable discharge from the USAF on April 7, 1972. He came home to his son, James Monroe Strachan, born in 1962, and worked at US Steel in Chicago. Later he worked for Williams International in Walled Lake, MI for 21 years in a variety of jobs relating to the Cruise Missile engine. He finished his career with over five years at Daimler-Chrysler traveling to Brazil, and Central Europe helping with production difficulties there. Barry enjoyed his travels with Chrysler as well as playing golf with his wife Dianne Panarites Strachan at Twin Beach Country Club and Westbrook Village in Peoria, AZ where they retired 20 years ago. A member of the Shriners both in Detroit and Phoenix, he strongly supported Shriners Hospital for Children. He will be missed by his friends and family. He is survived by his son James, and wife of 46 years, Dianne. His ashes will be buried in Milford, MI with his family.