Raymond Vinson Strum Jr.

Raymond (Bob) Vinson Strum Jr., age 87, of Mint Hill, NC passed away peacefully in his home on November 5th, 2024. He was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, to Mildred Jones Strum and Raymond Vinson Strum, on January 3rd, 1937.

Bob grew up farming tobacco in Vance County NC as the oldest of 5 children. He and his wife Shirley Moss Strum attended the same school for 12 years, and were highschool sweethearts. Bob graduated from Townsville High School in 1955. He then attended Nashville Diesel College in Nashville, Tennessee. After that, in 1957 he moved to Raleigh NC to work at N.C. Equipment Co. where he started as a parts clerk and ended up transitioning into sales. That year he married the love of his life, Shirley Moss Strum. They moved to Hickory where they started their family. There, he started working for Western Carolina Tractor where he eventually became VP of the company in 1972. They then moved to Mint Hill NC where he became the branch manager for the Charlotte area. In 1983 he started his own company, Strum Equipment Co. where he finished out the rest of his career, retiring in 2001.

Bob enjoyed spending his time gardening, fishing in the Outer Banks with his three sons, landscaping, investing, watching ACC football and basketball and eating Shirley's home cooked meals. Bob was a man of strong faith, and led his family in this way. He and Shirley were members at Blair Road United Methodist Church for 50 years and presently members at The Road Global Methodist Church.

Bob will be remembered as a kind, hard working, faithful man, who loved making people laugh. He was devoted to his family and was always willing to help anyone in need. Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shirley Moss Strum, son Raymond Vinson (Vince) Strum III, son Jeffrey Gill Strum (Lynn), son Bradley Dean Strum (Kim), granddaughter Kayley Strum Combs (Daniel), granddaughter Kristyn Lauren Strum, granddaughter Emily Caitlin Strum, great granddaughter Avery Rebecca Combs, and great granddaughter Ella Claire Combs. Bob is also survived by two sisters, Linda Strum Miltz and Joyce Strum Garett.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred Jones Strum and Raymond Vinson Strum, his sister Peggy Strum Tucker, and brother Jasper Eugene (Gene) Strum.

Family will receive friends on Friday, November 8th from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at McEwen Funeral Service - Mint Hill Chapel, 7428 Matthews-Mint Hill Road Mint Hill, NC 28227. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm. Bob will then be laid to rest at Sunset Memory Gardens in Mint Hill, NC.

Donations and Memorials can be made to The Road Church, P.O. Box 690683, Mint Hill, North Carolina, 28227