John W Strong

John Westley Strong Jr. was born April 3, 1920 in Helena, Arkansas to Elizabeth and John Westley Strong Sr. He was one of five children and preceded in death by his parents, three sisters – Mattie, Estella, Oneita and a brother, Floyd.

John was raised in Chicago by his grandma, Mary Smith. In 1937 he met Ada Rhyne and they were married in 1940.

John and Ada were married 75 years on June 18, 2015. During this union, they had two daughters, Sylvia and Carolyn. But in 1957, they added a son, Anthony Jefferson to their family.

John had a technical background from his education and training. In his younger adult years, he fixed radios, televisions, and installed music entertainment units in homes and businesses. He could fix just about anything electrical. The family always told the story about when he told them that “they would be able to watch movies in their home on something called the television”. They did not believe him, but it was true. He was one of the first people to get a television, not one with a tiny screen, but a ten-inch round screen. If you know John Strong, he always had to have the biggest and best.

After returning from the Navy, John was employed by South Central Music – a jukebox and later a games business. When the owners Marjorie Robinson and Morris Proffitt retired many years later, John and Ada purchased the business.

John was not only an entrepreneur, he was a financial wizard. He served on the Board of Seaway National Bank when Ernest Collins was President. He was asked to be Executor many times for different Trusts. Some he accepted. Some he did not. His services were requested many times because he was a man with integrity and could be trusted.

He was very good with mathematics. In his spare time, he taught math to his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and neighbor’s children. You could always find “How To – The Easy Way” and “Math for Dummies” in his book collection up to the day of his transition. He helped develop many engineers and professionals in his family and the neighborhood.

John was always available to advise others on financial matters of investment. Many came to him requesting advice because he was an astute business man. He also made sure that his family was well provided for and had the best of everything.

John Strong made his transition on Thursday, July 23, 2015 at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He leaves to celebrate his life a wife of 75 years, Ada; his two daughters Sylvia Yvette (James) Denwoodie and Carolyn Marie (Jessie) Walton; a son, Anthony Vance Jefferson; grandsons, Anthony James (Priscilla) Curtis, Derek Curtis, Sean Jefferson; granddaughters, Ericka Jefferson and Heather Jefferson; great-granddaughters, Dominique Curtis and Noelle Peterson-Curtis; great-grandsons, Anthony Curtis, Jr., Rhyan RT (Arnita) Curtis, Derin Curtis, Kyle Curtis; great-great-grandson, Deston Curtis; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Downtown Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.