Jimmy Strickler

Jimmy E. Strickler, a longtime resident of Tenth Legion, Virginia, lost his battle with pneumonia on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2026.

Jimmy will be buried privately on Friday, May 15, at Fairview Brethren Church near Endless Caverns followed by a public memorial service at 10:30 am presided over by Rev. Terri Driver-Bishop of Frederick, Maryland (Nancy Stewart’s daughter) at Jimmy’s home at 12473 North Valley Pike, followed by brunch at Fairview Brethren Social Hall.

He is survived by a wide circle of family and friends: his dear wife of 44 years Mary (Tyson) Strickler, his beloved children: daughter Kim Miller of Pleasant Valley (Jimmy’s ‘Gal Friday’ who cared for him), Rhonda Hand of South Carolina (retired Naval officer Larry Hand), SC Strickler of Harrisonburg (wife Angie), and Ty Strickler of Los Angeles, California who spent the last five years taking care of his father as he declined in health.

Additionally, Jimmy had five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Jimmy was incredibly proud of his Strickler family heritage and siblings who included: Elsie Long of Charlotte, NC, (Brooks), Frances Walton of New Market (our Monday Morning Sunshine caregiver), Anna Sprouse of Singers Glenn (David), Butch Dinges of Harrisonburg (Marie) and Lucy Rhinehart of Endless Caverns. Every day started with a smile because Lucy lovingly cared for Jimmy. She was not just his little sister or his morning caregiver, she was his world.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his beloved son, Bruce A. Strickler of Timberville. For Bruce, the sun rose and set with his Daddy. During Bruce’s life, there wasn’t a day that father and son didn’t spend together. Also Jimmy is preceded in death by his beloved mother Lucy Dinges of Endless Caverns and younger brother, Bubby Strickler.

Growing up in a large, hard-working family on Endless Caverns Road, Jimmy loved the land, loved to farm and hunt. He was a life-long learner and an avid reader who taught himself how to fix anything. He became a master mechanic and skilled auto body man, who naturally gravitated to the allure of the big city in the DC/Maryland area. He ran the body shop at L.P Stuart and other high profile shops in the Washington area in the 1970s before moving his family back to the Valley he loved. Jimmy opened his own successful body shop, Strickler Automotive, and did customer work, restored classic cars and built motors at his home in Tenth Legion, Virginia. His lacquer paint jobs were legendary, winning many car show awards and landing his own show truck, 1971 Chevrolet, in a feature in Hot Rod magazine.

Although Jimmy (Slick) continually received lucrative opportunities to return to the city, he wanted to raise his kids on the land that he loved. He would always turn down the latest offer saying: “No boys, I like the thought of shutting up shop and dropping a fishing pole in Smith Creek anytime I please. You can’t put a price on that quality of life.”

Jimmy, an avid drag racer for decades, built quite the reputation as Capital Raceway’s Competitor of the Year, Maryland’s Competitor of the Year and so many more accolades with his Branded Lady race cars. He would give his trophies away to kids because to Jimmy, it wasn’t about the win, it was about the challenge of pushing himself to get a few more RPMs out of the screaming motor or mathematically figure out a way to leave the line faster. With a Puritan work ethic, Jimmy worked hard during the week, but raced harder on the weekends. He teamed up with his brother Bub, who drove his round track car, as they competed in the NASCAR Sportsman series in the late 70s.

An avid dog lover. A hardcore Redskin fan. A thrower of legendary New Years parties. An avid fisherman. An admirer of Willy and Wayland and OFC, it would take a lifetime to adequately describe this Renaissance man who would drop everything in an instant to help his neighbors and friends.

As Jimmy’s circumference grew smaller in his later years, his perspective on life grew larger. He cherished the view of the world from his front bay window. While most people never took the time to slow down and actually SEE the world, Jim did. He knew his Valley view was God’s perfect masterpiece. Jimmy loved the Lord, lived by his example of kindness to all and truly believed ‘the BEST was yet to come.’

After Jimmy’s debilitating stroke 15 years ago, special people came into his life as care givers: Lucy Rhinehart, Frances Walton, Kim Miller, Ty Strickler and Sandy Lane who brightened his days with her country ways, dancing to the Elvis ornaments around the Christmas tree, kissing him on the forehead each day as she left saying: “Don’t tell your wife, this is just between us.” And most recently, Peggy Rippel who reengaged his mind by helping him do puzzles and occupy his thoughts with chatter about the latest local news.

Even though Jimmy became non-communicative near the end of his life because of his stroke, spending a day with Jimmy was an absolute honor not a burden. Mary was so grateful to be his love since 1978. In picking a younger wife, he would tell people: “At least I don’t have to trade her in for a new model.” He was incredibly proud of her illustrious 44 year teaching career with Harrisonburg City Schools (English teacher and yearbook adviser) and accepting of her dedication to ‘her kids’ and the time it took away from home and family life, even as she continues to teach today at Rocktown High.

Getting to do a little front porch sitting with Jimmy reminded us all to slow down and enjoy another beautiful day. His infectious smile, his calm nature, the twinkle in his hazel blue eyes, his love of nature as he pointed out the Canadian geese landing on the pond or the latest calf being born in the Arbogast field, these things far outshined the roar of the Sunday crowd of his earlier days racing at Talladega, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona and all the other places.

Jimmy was grateful for the special people who brought the outside world to him every week as they came to spend quality time and especially for Ty Strickler who left LA to keep a watchful eye on him 24/7 to ensure he could stay at home, the place where he dearly loved.

His daughter Sissy who would come every Friday and sew the day away with Jimmy watching on. Sissy coined it best:
‘A Day with Dad is the BEST you ever had.’