David Sanford Strout

DAVID SANFORD STROUT, 88 Lakeland - David Sanford Strout of Lakeland passed away September 7, 2012 at the age of 88, due to respiratory failure. Born on April 1, 1924 in Atlanta, Georgia to the Reverend Sanford Byron Strout and Madie Pilley Strout, he moved to Lakeland in 1964. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his adored wife of 63 years, Josephine. At the age of 19, David enlisted in the G Company of the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team which participated in the liberation of southern France during World War II. Of the 126 paratroopers in his company, 76% were casualties within 3 months. After the war, he enrolled at Georgia Tech where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. David worked for Mobil""s mining division at the time of his retirement, but was subsequently a consultant on diverse engineering projects as well as a teacher of industrial computer software around the world. David was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he was a constant source of encouragement and fun. He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of jokes and a fierce intelligence, as well as an insatiable ""sweet tooth"". David was a great story-teller and diarist, and his family is grateful that he left a very well-documented family history. He had been a church choir member over the years and loved music and watching musical movies. At First United Methodist Church in Lakeland he participated in the BYKOTA Sunday school class, ushered, visited homebound church members with Josephine, and was involved in many other activities. He had a wonderful, caring group of friends that he and Josephine traveled and socialized with for many years. He is survived by his children, Betsy (Bill) Sargeant of Lakeland, and Matt (Leslie) Strout of Longwood, Florida, as well as his grandchildren Mandy (Rachel) Sargeant, Joanna Sargeant Risley, Katie Sargeant, Justin (Sara) Strout, and Tori Strout. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Justin Strout, Zooey Strout, and Willa Sargeant. He is survived by a brother-in-law, David (Annie Ruth) Chapman of Gahanna, OH, and a niece and nephew, Ann (Micky) Camp of Atlanta, GA, and John (Pat) Brinsfield, Jr, of Chattanooga, TN. His family also would like to thank Maria Malcolm, who cared for him over the last five months of his life. David delighted in simple pleasures " traveling, dining, and being with his family and his friends. His family is forever grateful for his love and support " he was our ""sunshine"". Donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801 or to the Alzheimer""s Association of Central Florida, 378 Center Point Circle, Suite 1280, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701.