Arthur Strader

Arthur Lee Strader, Sr. age 97, died Tuesday morning September 15, 2015 at Brookdale Danville Piedmont. He was born in Danville, Va. on March 27, 1918 a son of Arthur Randolph Strader and Rosa Mitchum Strader. Arthur live in Danville all his life and was employed for 35 years by the City of Danville Fire Department. He retired as Captain in 1978. He was a former member of North Main Baptist Church where he served as deacon, treasurer, chairman of the finance committee and chairman of the benevolent committee. He is a current member of Shermont Baptist Church. Arthur was an active member of the Danville Host Lions Club having served as president in 1980-81, former cabinet member 24- B of Lion's International and received the Melvin Jones Feller award. In 1985-86 he served Lions International as District Governor. He was a former president of TPA Post E, three term president of the Danville Chapter of the AARP, past Sachem of Poquoson Tribe Improved Order of Red Men, past president of Danville Senior Citizen Club, and former vice-president of Danville Council on Aging. In 1977, Arthur helped organize the City of Danville Retiree's Club and served as the first president. He was a volunteer at the Danville Judicial Courts for many years and was awarded the 2002 Liberty Bell Award by the Danville Bar Association. He was a member of the Danville Area Council of Community Services and a former board member of Prevent Blindness-Virginia. He was married to Irene Pruitt Strader for 53 years until her passing on January 4, 1994. He was also predeceased by his son Arthur Lee Strader, Jr. Arthur is survived by his daughter, Janet S. Blair and her husband, Melvin of Climax, VA, two grandsons, Jerry Lee Pace, Jr. and his wife, Angell of Danville and Jonathan Eric Pace and his wife, Shelia of Madison, Ga., four great-grandchildren, Cody Pace and Cheyenne Pace both of Madison, Ga. and Daniel Gerrells and Kacie Gerrells, and a daughter-in-law, Betty Strader of Milford, Va. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Townes Memorial Chapel with the Reverend Paul Johnson and the Reverend Steve Carlton officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Burial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday, prior to the funeral service from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. and at other times will be at the residence of his daughter, Janet and Melvin Blair, 2997 Climax Road, Climax, Va.