Joe Thomas Strow

Colonel Joe T. Strow passed away in Tulsa, OK on May 24, 2020. He was born to Lucien Carr Strow and Mary Jo Holland Strow in Murray, Kentucky on August 1, 1935. Joe was a graduate of Ottawa High School in Ottawa, Illinois. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University for two years, and the University of Illinois for one year before entering the Air Force. In July 1958, Colonel Strow entered the Aviation Cadet Program and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in October 1959. Upon graduation from pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas, Colonel Strow was assigned to advanced interceptor training at Moody AFB, Georgia, flying the F-86L. His next assignment was with the Strategic Air Command flying the B-47E until January 1966 when he entered F-105D training at McConnell AFB, Kansas. Upon graduation, Colonel Strow was assigned to Takli, RTAFB, Thailand, where he flew 100 combat mission over North Vietnam. After completion of his Southeast Asian tour, Colonel Strow was assigned to Laughlin AFB, Texas. He served as an instructor in the T-37 and as the Wing Flying Safety Officer until his separation from the Air Force in March 1972. In January 1972, while attending the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Colonel Strow joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Shortly thereafter, the unit began its conversion from military airlift transports to tactical fighters and Colonel Strow instructed transition in the T-33 before going to F-100 training in January 1973. Upon graduation from F-100 RTU, he was appointed Chief of Standardization and Evaluation of the 138th Tactical Fighter Group and was employed as a full-time technician in April 1974. In December 1974, Colonel Strow was named Deputy Command of Operations. In January 1984, he was selected as the technician Air Commander and in April of 1988, became the Commander. Colonel Strow was a Command Pilot with 355 combat hours and over 6000 hours of military flying time in ten different aircraft. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New York, was a graduate of Spartan School of Aeronautics, the Air Command and Staff School, and was an outstanding graduate of the Air War College in 1987. Colonel Strow's military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Citation Award, Combat Readiness Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. A man of many talents, Colonel Strow was a wood carver (water fowl), water color painter, open water (Atlantic) sailor (ketch rigged cutter) and private pilot (Mooney 20A, PT-22). He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Antique Airplane Association, Experimental Aircraft Association and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He was a founding member of the Society of the Strategic Air Command. Colonel Strow was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest brother, Peter Holland Strow. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan; son, John (Paula), Jeffrey (Stacy) and their three sons, Jarrett, Justen and Jaxen all of Tulsa; brother, Norman Kent Strow (Jean), of Ottawa, IL; sister, Dr. Nancy Strow Sheley, Long Beach, CA; numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial Service will be 10 am, Saturday, August 8, 2020 in Mason Chapel at Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Colonel Joe T. Strow's memory be made to Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society or any Veteran support organization.

Joe Thomas Strow

August 1, 1935 - May 24, 2020