Newman F. Striplin, Jr.

How do you measure a life – History, Legacy, Or Both? After a slow battle with a variety of ailments that often come when life reaches into the 10th decade of life, our father, Newman F. Striplin, Jr, decided it was time to quit fighting on earth and go explore the places Jesus had prepared in advance just for him in heaven. We can scarcely imagine the Glory of it, which makes the sadness of missing one last hug, wave, chat or request for advice with him more bearable. His personal history began when he was born on March 14, 1931 in Heard County, GA, the son of Florence Geneva Johnson and Newman Francis Striplin, Sr. His early years were spent on his maternal grandparents’ farm until he was 13, instilling in him the worth ethic and ingenuity that permeated his character. Once, when he was in the field picking cotton, he saw a car go by. He thought to himself, “One day, I’m going to own my own car and the only way to do that is to get an education”…which is exactly what he did. After moving to Carroll County, he attended Mt. Zion High School from which he graduated in 1948. His mother, modeling the same work ethic he possessed, worked two jobs to help put him through college. He attended West Georgia College and the University of Georgia, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Management. He remained a fan of the UGA Bulldogs until his final day. Go Dawgs! Upon graduation he was commissioned to serve in the U.S. Navy, attended the Navy Supply Corp School in Bayonne, NJ and served as Supply Officer on the U.S.S. Strickland in the North Atlantic during the Cold War. He continued a passion for learning throughout his life. After he was released from 2 years of active duty in 1954, he came home and married the love of his life, Mary Martha Fielder on December 18, 1954. He also continued his service in the Naval Reserves. He retired from Westinghouse Electric Corp. after 37 years in the Treasury field. That lifetime career took his family on a tour of the eastern United States including: Atlanta, GA, Miami, FL, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, Pittsburgh, PA and Philadelphia, PA. Upon retirement in 1992, Newman and Martha moved to Skidaway Island, Savannah for a very busy and fulfilling “retirement” including golfing, fishing, hunting, woodworking, gardening, golf cart rides with grandchildren to “hunt” alligators, buy jelly beans and fish in the lagoons, walks to the gazebo, naps on the porch, dinner parties with friends and neighbors, but also one of membership and service to the church (Skidaway Island United Methodist Church choir), the city (the Board of Equalization hearing tax payer appeals) and neighbors (he was always toting tools and ladders to someone’s place to help them fix a problem.) They enjoyed 20 years in Savannah, until Martha’s passing on February 28, 2012. Newman returned to Carrollton in 2013 where he was a member of Carrollton First United Methodist Church, a member of the Lion’s Club and enjoyed the friendly companionship of Margaret Perkins and her family. He relocated to Austin, Texas in 2021 to be near one of his daughters for support. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 57 years, Martha F. Striplin, and his infant brother, Dwayne Striplin. Survivors include his three daughters, Susan Evans (Tim) of Louisville, KY, Janet Schroeder (David) of Centennial, WY, and Amy Duncan (Ron) of Austin, TX; eight grandchildren, Emily (Josh) Brown, Katherine, David, Jonathan, and Elizabeth Schroeder, and Darby, Harrison (Charlotte), and Ryan Duncan. Outside of the historical timeline of Newman’s career choices, church membership, and volunteer activities, his life and legacy points to something much more vibrant. In so many areas of his life, he made choices in life that impacted generations, purposefully creating a rich legacy. He chose to put family before pleasure, to set an example of a loving faith in Christ Jesus. He was committed to his marriage. He made sure we were in church together as a family, never complaining about early Sunday wake-up times despite working in the corporate world for a good portion of his adult life. From our church families came many beautiful friendships that have lasted over the years. He drove us to all sorts of activities including church youth group. His commitment to God, family, and country was passed to his children and grandchildren as well. Each career and subsequent geographical move brought unique challenges and opportunities to exercise his positive outlook on life and ability to adapt to new situations: culturally, geographically and emotionally. His life on the farm growing up during the depression with a single mother was hard, but attitude was a choice. He and our mom were always proponents of positivity wherever we moved and whatever the task, always finding the good. His advice to us as we were entering the working world was to be the hardest working person, show up early, do a good job, finish the job, show dedication. That was more important than being the smartest. He believed in hiring people smarter than himself and letting them do their jobs. He trusted people and taught us that the world is a good, safe place and friends can be made just about anywhere, anytime. He valued people above things and was never a stranger for long. He made a habit of walking to a new neighbor’s house before the boxes were unpacked (his or theirs) to lend a helping hand, offer to share tools and extend a warm welcome. He spent his life with his eyes trained up on God and outward on people - genuinely trying to connect with anyone who crossed his path regardless of circumstances. His final 5 years after moving to Austin were difficult, but his tenacity, positivity, humor and kindness continued to shine. Even when he was unable to communicate much due to damage from strokes and the related cognitive decline, he would still smile and extend a hand to his friends and staff at Brookdale Gaines Ranch – a reflection of his welcoming, kind, generous and mentally tough character that we got to experience as his children throughout our lives. We believe he made the Gaines Ranch community better with his presence, and as a result, the community made our family better, too! Up until the very end, he remained positive with a twinkle in his eye, always ready for a joke – even declaring confidently 2 weeks before his death that he would surely be bald in heaven (he started balding in his late teens). He was fortunate to have had an amazing team of caregivers that allowed him to stay in his final “home” and enjoy the simple things of life, seeing birds at his window feeder, watching the Atlanta Braves, doing the occasional “chicken dance”, and eating with his regular guy friends for meals, right up until his final breath. We will be forever thankful to the care teams from Brookdale at Home and Magnolia Hospice for the kindness and care they showed us and our father. They were diligent, loyal, dependable, hard working, humorous, kind, thoughtful, strong and loving in unique and beautiful ways that made us all feel seen and loved. How do you measure a life? Newman’s life was immeasurable. He was a good husband, father, friend to just about everyone he met, servant, employee and employer …he was always there for us and the people around him. We will miss you, Dad. Tell Mom “Hello!” for us. See you on the other side some day! -Susan, Janet and Amy Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” -John 14:1- 7 It Is Well With My Soul By Horatio Spafford When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

Newman F. Striplin, Jr.

March 14, 1931 - July 26, 2026