Thomas Edward Strawder, Sr.

Thomas Edward Strawder Sr. (VETERAN) Roswell Thomas Edward Strawder Sr., 81, of Roswell, formerly of Moultrie, passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Born Oct. 15, 1932, in Sanford, Fla., he was the son of the late Abbie Preston Strawder and Minnie Lee Ward Strawder. Mr Strawder retired from DeKalb County Government as a heavy equipment mechanic and he was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps as well as a longtime member of the Perry, Florida, Masonic Lodge. He was of the Baptist faith. Surviving are his wife, of 48 years, JoAnn Bolton Strawder of Roswell; two sons, Rick Strawder and wife Linda Hood of Lake Park, and Thomas Strawder Jr. of Marietta; daughter, Michell Keif and husband Chris Keif of Cumming; grandchildren, Ricky Strawder, Jason Strawder of Covington, Kathrine Strawder Peltier of Cartersville, Steve Strawder Jr. of El Paso, Texas, Rachel Strawder of Marietta, Haley Blount of Woodstock, Jenny Goldberger of Athens, Hannah Blount of Cumming, Jessica Strawder of Marietta, Eric Blount of Woodstock, and Elias and Cyril Keif of Cumming; five sisters, Katherine Hand of Moultrie, Dorothy Wright and husband D.W. Wright of Moultrie, Evelyn Brightwell of Valdosta, Juanita Sasser of Moultre, and Geraldine Conger of Thomasville; sister-in-law, Helen Garfield and husband Stefan of Jacksonville, FL; and brother-in-law, Billy Bolton of Roswell. Mr Strawder was preceded in death by son, Steve Strawder; granddaughter, Abbie Strawder of Boise, Idaho; sister, Mary Frances Strawder; and brother, Eugene Strawder of Valdosta. Memorial services will be held at noon, on Saturday, April 19, at China Grove Baptist Church with interment at China Grove Cemetery with the Rev. Gary Conger officiating. Thomas Strawder Jr., Chris Keif, David Wright, Coy Brightwell, Shane Peltier and Max Currie will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, at China Grove Baptist Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home. Please leave condolences to the family at www.bakerfuneralhomeofmoultrie.com and www.moultrieobserver.com . In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials may be directed to https://secure3.4agoodcause.com/afa/fundraisers/memorial1.aspx .