He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 8, 1924, to the late Margaret Lande and Arthur A. Strange.

He proudly served his country for over 33 years. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division and various units in Special Forces. Service to his country included World War II, 36th Infantry Division Texas National Guard and the Salerno landings in Italy, the battle of Mount Casino at the Repito River and the battle of San Pietro. He participated in Iceland as head of the armored unit. He served in Korea. He participated in five tours in Vietnam representing the 5th Special Forces. Later in his career, he served with Combat Development Command.

During his service, he was awarded many decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations and campaign ribbons, among them the Bronze Star Medal-2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, World War II Defense Medal, Parachute Badge and Senior Parachute Badge, four Overseas Bars, Armed Forces Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, two awards, Armed Forces Expedition Medal, National Defense Service Medal Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal and a Gallantry Medal with Gold Star.

Following his military retirement, he began his second career as a teacher at both Seventy-First and Douglas Byrd high schools, later retiring as a teaching professional.

His entrepreneurial ventures created Ken-Art Realty and the Silver Fox Club. He was an avid golfer.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 52 years, Virginia Baldwin Strange, and his loving wife of two years, Gloria Gay Strange.

He is survived by his brothers, Kenneth Strange of Bayport, N.Y., and George Fotis of La Palma, Calif., and their families; his daughters, Virginia Strange Bradshaw and her husband, David Bradshaw, of Garner; Catherine Ann Strange and her partner, Fleur Hedden, of Washington, D.C.; Siobhan Marie Strange of Cary; Alicia Strange Arndt of Jasper, Tenn., Moriah Hardman and her husband, Jonathan Hardman, of Fayetteville; sons, Col. Arthur Aloysius Strange IV, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, and Shane Sonnenfeld of Wilmington; his loving grandchildren, Amanda Arndt, Jennifer Arndt and Christopher Arndt of Alabama, and Erik Strange, Mallory Strange and Nicki Strange of Germany; his loving great-granddaughter, Kathryn Proctor; special friends the Walsh family; and too many to name.

Services were entrusted to Rogers and Breece Funeral Home on Ramsey Street in Fayetteville.

Burial was at Lafayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street.

Memorials may be made to Friends of the Heart Center at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, P.O. Box 87526, Fayetteville, NC 28304