Richard Blaine Strawn, Sr.

  Richard Strawn, 92, of Fruitland, Idaho, passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Edgewood Assisted Living Fruitland surrounded by family.  Arrangements under the direction of Shaffer Jensen Memory Chapel.  There will be a service, Saturday August 24th, at the Methodist Church 317 SW 2nd St. Fruitland, Idaho.  

  Richard was born November 27, 1931 to Clarence and Eva Strawn in the family home. Richard joined an older sister Arlene, and in 1933 his brother Gene completed the family. 

  Richard attended school in Fruitland, Id. graduating in 1950. He attended college for a brief time in Moscow, ID. Until his father needed him to help on the farm.

  Richard received his pilot's license at the young age of 16, and he was a avid pilot. Richard recently received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, for 50 years of dedicated Service in Aviation.

  He met the love of his life, Joann Heathman, while they were still in high school, and Richard flew to Emmett, ID., to pick Joann up and take her to Fruitland Jr. Sr. Prom. Richard and Joann were married August 31, 1951. 

  On October 17th 1951. Richard joined the United state Air Force and left for basic training in Texas. In December of that year, Richard came home for Christmas and when he returned to Texas, Joann joined him until he discharge in 1955. When they returned to Idaho, Richard began farming again with his father.

  They started their family in 1952, with the birth of their first child, Richard (Rick) Strawn, Jr., (Debbie), Janet Fritts, Joyce Nichols, (Kim) and Russell Strawn. They were blessed with four grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

  Richard was a member of the Fruitland School Board for Nine years. He was a member of the EEA, Experimental Aircraft Association.

  Richard never met a stranger, and me met many very interesting people throughout the years, including Royal Navy Fighter Pilot from England, that shared Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, a Chilean sheep herder who cared for his flock across the road from the family home, and he was friends with a nuclear physicist who worked on the Manhatten Project.

  Richard was preceded by his wife, Joann who passed away 44 days before their 70th anniversary, a daughter, Janet Marie Fritts and two grandchildren, Kaydian Blaine Shipley and Tyler Blaine Lancaster.