(1971 Graduate Of Fayette High School)
George Wesley Strayer, age 73, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026, at his home, while under the care of hospice. George was born in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Nov. 29, 1952, to the late Donald and Wilma (Garmenn) Strayer.
George was a 1971 graduate of Fayette High School. On Oct. 15, 1977, he married Patricia (Clark) Strayer, and she survives.
George was known as the “Ice Cream Man” since his entire career was in the ice cream industry, which he dearly loved. He started his career after graduating from The Ohio State University with a food science and nutrition degree.
His first job was working in Columbus, Ohio, in an ice cream plant as a dairy supervisor. He and Pat moved to many states where he held job titles such as plant manager, quality assurance manager, and principal scientist, where he developed many flavors of ice cream, including some from Baskin Robbins.
After George’s retirement from Dean Foods, where he worked for 22 years in Belvedere, Illinois, he and Pat moved to Bryan, Ohio, near the area where George grew up. He truly enjoyed being closer to his family.
George was an active and faithful member of the Bryan Alliance Church, where he served as an elder. George loved going to his children’s sports and music events when they were younger. In his retirement, he enjoyed fishing in his two ponds and playing golf with his church buddies.
In between his cancer treatments, he loved to sit by the ponds and watch family, friends, and neighbors fish. He loved flowers and especially enjoyed the daffodils in his yard every spring. He also enjoyed watching Ohio State play football.
In his retirement, George enjoyed making ice cream in the ice cream machine given to him when he retired from Dean Foods. He truly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He delighted in traveling in the United States and overseas with his wife Pat.
Along with his wife, George is survived by his children, Tracy Strayer of Rockford, Illinois, Mia Strayer of Bryan, Ohio, and Wesley Strayer of Phoenix, Arizona. He is also survived by his sister, Martha (Randall) Miller of Bryan, Ohio; sister, Marilyn Strayer of Goshen, Indiana; sister, Alice Strayer of Fort Wayne, Indiana; sister Barb Rash of Bryan, Ohio; and brother Matt (Suzy) Strayer of Paulding, Ohio. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and sisters and brothers-in-law. George is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Wilma Strayer.
Visitation for George will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. at the Bryan Alliance Church, 220 West Fountain Grove Drive, Bryan, Ohio. Funeral services to celebrate George’s life will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Bryan Alliance Church. Pastor Nik Walborn will officiate. George will be laid to rest at West Franklin Cemetery, rural Fayette, Ohio. Following the cemetery services, a funeral meal will be served at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Bryan Alliance Church or Elara Caring Home Hospice. To sign the online register or to leave condolences, please visit www.krillfuneralservice.com.
George’s obituary was lovingly prepared by his family. Krill Funeral Home, Bryan, Ohio, is honored to serve the Strayer family.