Ronald R. "Corky" Stralo

Ronald R. "Corky" Stralo, 71, of Fountain Hill, died Jan. 21, 2008, at Hospice of the V.N.A. of St. Lukes, Lower Saucon Township. He and his wife, Mary Long Stralo, celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary in August. Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Rollin G. and Veronica Drozda Stralo.

After graduating in 1957 from Bethlehem Vocational School, Corky joined the Navy, serving on the USS Putnam as a machinist during the Korean Conflict. When he returned to the Lehigh Valley, he began his career as a machinist for Bethlehem Apparatus until 1965 and then moved to Mack Trucks International for 30 years, retiring in 1995. While at Mack Trucks, he enjoyed singing with the companys chorus. He and his wife were active members of St. Ursulas Catholic Church, Fountain Hill. Corky was loved by many and was always willing to help his immediate and extended family with household projects, especially his mother-in-law, Marie Long, during her many moves from one house to another.

Survivors: Wife; daughter, Kathleen, wife of John Michael Mudri Jr. of Salisbury Township; son, Scott Michael Stralo of Santa Monica, Calif.; brothers, Rollin G. Stralo Jr. and Earl Stralo, both of Bethlehem, Richard Stralo of Fountain Hill; sisters, Dorothy, wife of George Rudis of Bethlehem, Barbara Marstellar of Alexandria, Va.; granddaughters, Taylor Marie and Alexis Nicole Mudri. He was preceded in death by his brother, Paul, and his sister, Gladys.

Services: 9:15 a.m. Thursday, Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Ursulas Catholic Church, 1300 Broadway, Bethlehem. Visitation, 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Contributions: May be made to Mesothelioma Applied Resource Foundation, P.O. Box 91840, Santa Barbara, CA 93190-1840 or St. Ursulas Catholic Church, PA 18015.