Birth Date: 04/17/1955
Deceased Date: 11/08/2022
Selma – Ronnie Lelon Strickland, age 67, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, in Princeton. Born, April 17, 1955, he was a son of the late Pat and Ethel Strickland in Johnston County. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by twin brother Donnie Lee Strickland Sr.
Ronnie loved farming and tended his first crop right out of high school in 1973 for the Rudolph & Mildred Bailey family. He was like a son to them and a brother to their children. Over the years he farmed tobacco, soybeans, corn, cotton, and wheat. He won many awards for his crops of wheat and beans. He also baled wheat straw for many years for Final Grade. When the tobacco buyout came, he bought tractor trailers and hauled grain, but his expertise was curing tobacco.
He was known far and wide for his curing abilities and could cure some of the prettiest tobacco you’d ever seen. He became a part of Kornegay Family Farms in 2012 and was proud to represent their family and thought very highly of each of them and the team there. Another love of Ronnie’s was tractor pulling. He was known and loved by pullers across the country and won many trophies which he was proud to display.
Ronnie was as laid back a man that has ever been, with a heart of gold. He was always willing to help anyone that needed it. His compassion for others and gentle spirit will be missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma. The family will receive guests and friends at the home of Ronnie’s daughter, Kayla, at 729 Hatcher Rd, Selma, NC, 27576.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra Stephenson Strickland, daughter, Kayla Strickland Hundley (Jesse), brother, David Stallings; stepchildren, Lt. Col. Stephen Barbour (Amy), Jeffrey Barbour, Kristen Pleasant and nephew, Donnie Lee Strickland Jr.
