Bill C. Strait (85) passed away June 30, 2022, in his home surrounded by his devoted family after a hard

fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease and other chronic illness. He follows the love of his life and wife

of 61 years whom he lost in 2019.

Bill was born at home in Point Pleasant, West Virginia to the late Alvie O. Strait and Rose Ann (Robinson)

Strait, one of 7 children. After attending Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis, Ohio, Bill enlisted in

the United States Army following the footsteps of some of his brothers. It was with the Army that the

young high school football star served in Korea during the tail end of that war and earned himself a

Purple Heart Medal among other distinctions. Upon return to the states, he joked he was “issued” a new

rifle and a bride; the latter being his future wife - fellow service member and East Boston native Patricia

A. Thorne. After falling in love at first sight and a whirlwind romance, the two were married in Fort

Monroe, Virginia on Feb 8, 1958.

Following their marriage and end of his tour, Billy Clay re-enlisted with the Army. He was sent to

California for training In the Military Police program before shipping off again to Germany this time.

Patricia moved home with family upon her own discharge and upon becoming pregnant with their only

child, Leann R. Strait, who was born June 13, 1959. Just months later Patricia would travel to Germany

with their young baby to be with him. Bill finished his service in 1961 and moved his family to East

Boston to be near his in-laws where he soon began working with the Greene Rubber Company, and they

took to fostering children in need. In 1971, they bought their forever home In Hanson, MA where they

both lived until their last breaths.

On top of his growing responsibilities at Greene Rubber, Bill attended Fisher Junior College in Boston

earning himself an Associates degree in Business in 1976. Then in 1983, he began his next journey by

enrolling in the police academy in addition to working his fulltime job and its daily commute. Bill was

very proud to serve as an Auxiliary Police Officer in Hanson from 1984-2002. On the force, Bill received a

special commendation for his help solving a homicide in 1988 and even reached the position of Captain

of the Auxiliary force for a time. Bill enjoyed the order and justice that came with his role on the force,

but more than anything he cherished being able to help and protect those in need. He also really

enjoyed the process of training young officers to be men with integrity, compassion, and discipline.

Bill and Patricia were very active in the community. Whether it be helping out at political events, as a

Mason, or at his daughter and grandkids’ schools, Bill embodied the title of good neighbor. He devoted a

number of years on the Hanson Recreation Committee and others; in particular for Camp Kiwanee he

advocated for specialty vehicles to get around, generators, and energy/water saving toilets. He also

considered it to be an honor to place flags on the graves of the local soldiers buried in Hanson on the

holidays. After his wife’s retirement, he then applied to become Chairman of the Board of Registrars. He

took this job very seriously as part of the democratic process he spent his life defending, and he

thoroughly enjoyed all the people he met and developed friendships with through the years.

Besides his truest love Pat and his parents, Bill joins his sister Clara May (Strait) Deroche and brother

Owen Strait in eternal rest; along with his beloved Thorne in-laws whom he adored. He is survived by his

siblings Robert Louis Strait, Otho Lee Strait, Wilbur Strait, and Erma Ann all in Ohio with many nieces,

nephews, and cousins in both Ohio and West Virginia. He is also survived by his loving daughter Leann

Strait and her partner Kent Grimsley of Weymouth; his adoring granddaughters Kirstyn Strait-McGrath

and her partner Kevin Hallahan of Freetown, and Patricia Strait-McGrath and her partner Kevin Gates of

Hanson; as well as his grandson Jason Brown of California; and also, some of their very special close friends  he 'adopted' along the way. 

He is fortunate to be leaving behind many great-grandchildren but will be especially missed by Gavin, Ethan, Kevin Jr., Aîne, Norienne, Rylee. He also leaves behind a sister-in-law Gayle Thorne of Missouri & her sons & their wives Scott & Kerry, Grant & Stephanie and their children Benjamin & Brooklyn. His wife's cousins from the North Shore & thenay friends & colleagues he met along his life's journey.  

A service will be held Sunday, July 10th,  2022 2pm to 6pm at Leighton-MacKinnon Funeral Home 

4 West Washington Street

Hanson, Massachusetts 02341

There will be a tribute by the family & military honors beginning at 5:15pm.

In lieu or addition to flowers, the family respectfully request that you would consider a donation in his honor to one of the charities listed below to help find a cure, treatments to battle this tragically devastating disease.

The Parkinson's Foundation 

https://www.apdaparkinson.org…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research

https://www.michaeljfox.org?s…

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