Milton A. Strasburg

Milton A. Strasburg was born in No Kay Lake, Minnesota on October 3, 1933.  He passed away peacefully on November 8, 2017 in Pasco, Washington with his wife Mary and family by his side. 

Adopted at an early age by Alfred and Dorothy Strasburg, the family moved to the Seattle area during World War II.  He graduated from Ballard High School class of 1951, and the University of Washington class of 1962.

Milt worked for the Western Electric Company during the 1950s and 1960s on the guidance systems for the Nike Hercules and Nike Zeus missile programs on Kwajalein Atoll, South Pacific; White Sands Missile Range in Alamogordo, New Mexico; Jever, West Germany; and Winston Salem, North Carolina.  He joined Pacific Northwest Bell in Seattle, Washington in 1968 as a space planning engineer, and stayed on through the transition to U.S. West Communications in the 1990s until his retirement in 1992. 

He married Mary Beth Carlile in 1964, and raised three children in the Renton area before moving to the Tri Cities region in 2009.  A loving father, he was always present at his children's sporting, ballet, and band events and was extremely proud of their accomplishments.

Milt was a member of the Seattle/Tacoma Antique Car Club and the Seattle/Tacoma chapter of the Horseless Carriage Club for many years, and enjoyed the hunt for a classic car.  An avid pipe smoker, he was a charter member of the Seattle Pipe Club and was the Slow Smoke Champion in 2001.  A member of the Cascade Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, he spent countless hours caring for his prized rhodies.  Milt was a member of Highlands Community Church where he served as Player/Coach for the Men's Softball team.  A diehard Seattle Mariners fan for the last forty years, he could give the entire life history for current and former Mariners.  Among his favorite activities were golf, fishing, and reading.

He is survived by his spouse Mary of 53 years, brother Raleigh Obenchain, son William (Kelly) Strasburg, son Michael (Jana) Strasburg, daughter Maria Strasburg, and four grandchildren, Ashley, Tyler, Emma, and Audrey.

He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents Alfred and Dorothy Strasburg, birth parents John and Emma Obenchain, brother John Obenchain Jr., and sister Betty Johnston.

He will be interred at Washington Memorial Gardens in Seattle, WA during a private family service.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Milt's name to a charity of your choice.

Cards can be sent to: The Strasburgs, P.O. Box 340, Richland, WA 99352.