Dec 19, 1932 - April 25, 2015
William ‘Bill’ Strand, died at his home in Minden, Nevada, at the age of 82. Bill was born in Sacramento, California, the son of Elizabeth Granlees (Nichols). Bill and his mother later settled in Fallon, where he graduated from Churchill County High School, in 1950. After college in Modesto, California, he entered the Air Force in 1953 and would subsequently become an aeronautical engineer as well as a fighter pilot. In his early career he worked on strategic missile systems and space systems, before transferring to Tactical Air Command and fighting in Southeast Asia as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam conflict. While continuing over his career to work on missile and space programs, his true love was flying and he had command positions in several fighter and weapons wings. For a time the famous Thunderbirds were part of his command. He had a long and distinguished career, retiring as a Brigadier General in 1980, with 4,700 flying hours and numerous military decorations and awards. After retiring from the Air Force, Bill was working in Albuquerque, NM for Science Applications International where he met his wife Barbara and they married in 1988. They retired and moved to Minden, Nevada in 2004. Bill would say he had finally moved back home and that he loved Nevada and especially the Carson Valley. He and Barbara made some wonderful friends and were very happy. Sadly Barbara preceded him in death, dying in 2013 after a long battle with cancer. Bill also lost his daughter Kathleen, many years ago to a car accident. Bill is survived by his daughter Cindy and her
children Ryan and Tara: son Mick, his wife Sarah, daughters Ainsley, Brynna, Sadie and great grandson Cyrus: his step son Brent, his daughter Erin and great granddaughter Sierra: and stepson Bob, his wife Felicia, son Marshall and daughter Sarah. Graveside services will be held at Churchhill County Cemetery in Fallon, NV at 3pm on Saturday, May 2nd. All are welcome to come celebrate Bill’s life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Arrangements with Smith Family Funeral Home, Fallon 423-2255.
