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Kentucky’s oldest WWII veteran, Jack Strother, dies in Ashland at age 106; served as Naval officer


By Mark Maynard
Kentucky Today

A man who was believed to be Kentucky’s oldest World War II naval veteran, and a longtime successful businessman and highly regarded community champion in Carter County, died last week.


Jack Wilhoit Strother, Sr., was 106 when he passed away Thursday in hospice care in Ashland. He was born Oct. 8, 1912 in Grayson.

Jack Strother



Strother served as a U.S. Naval officer in the South Pacific theatre during World War II.


He was associated with The Commercial Bank of Grayson since his graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1933, serving as chairman of the board and president prior to his retirement.
 
Strother served as a Sunday school teacher, a deacon and elder at the First Church of Christ of Grayson and was chairman of the elders for 22 years.

Strother, preceded in death by his wife Edith, is survived by a son, Jack (Celia) Strother, Jr. of Grayson; a daughter, Mimi Strother Stoops of Vero Beach, Florida; three grandchildren and six grandchildren.


His funeral was Sunday in Grayson. 



Ernest “Ernie” Blanchet of Danville is the oldest living World War II veteran now at 105 years old.


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