Weldon (Bruce) Strickland was born in Dallas, TX on October 20, 1951, to Wilma Jean and Weldon Buford Strickland. He attended school in Dallas and graduated from Justin F. Kimball High School in 1969. In 1977, Bruce graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Criminology, and Corrections from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. He passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 73.
Bruce began his career with the Texas Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer I at the Eastham Unit in 1971. He worked his way through the ranks, and held positions as Correctional Officer II, Commissary Manager, and Sergeant. While working, Bruce also served 12 years in the Texas National Guard from 1970 until 1982. In 1976 he was promoted to Building Lieutenant at Wynne Farm in Huntsville, TX. In 1978, Bruce transferred to the Beto Unit in Tennessee Colony, TX as Personnel Lieutenant. In 1984, he was promoted to Disciplinary Captain, and eventually Major at the Coffield Unit, also in Tennessee Colony. In 1986, he was transferred again back to Beto I and was promoted to Assistant Warden. In 1990, Bruce was promoted to Senior Warden at the Gib Lewis Unit in Woodville, TX where in 1993, he retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division.
In 1994, he accepted a position as Business Manager of the USCC Diboll Correctional Center where he worked for 4 years.
In 1998, Bruce went to work with the Tyler County Community Supervision and Corrections Department as a Probation Officer, and was later promoted to Chief Probation Officer, where he served until his second retirement in 2010.
In 2013, he worked for another 3 years as a part time Probation Officer with the 452nd Judicial District in McCulloch County, TX, but mostly worked in Mason County. After an outstanding career in Corrections, spanning 42 years, Bruce retired to live in Mason, TX for the rest of his life.
Bruce married his loving wife, Jan Strickland, on May 5, 1972, in Trinity, TX. They had two children, Wes and Kassi. Bruce’s greatest joys were spending time with family. Whether enjoying holiday meals or driving to watch his grandsons play sports, family always came first. Another hobby Bruce enjoyed during his retirement was the weekly poker game with the guys.
Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Weldon Buford Strickland and Wilma Jean (Strickland) Parker of Dallas, TX. He is survived by his wife, Jan Strickland; his son, Wesley Strickland; his daughter, Kassi Reichenau and her husband, Walt; and his grandsons, Jaxson and Tanner Reichenau, all of Mason and his sister, Treva Adams, and husband Douglass of Duncanville
A Celebration of Life Service was held at Mason Global Methodist Church on Sunday, November 10th, at 2:00 PM.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.
