Stanley Strum

Stanley Strum May 21, 1931 to Nov. 2, 2015 Stanley Strum, longtime Waco businessman, civic leader and beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died on November. 2, 2015. He was 84. Services will be at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 4, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug Shafer officiating. Visitation with the family and a lunch reception celebrating Stanley’s life will immediately follow the service at The Pavilion at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 1 Pavilion Way, Woodway. Stanley was born May 21, 1931, to Marcus and Florence Golenternek Strum in Tyler, Texas. As an athlete at Tyler High School, he played golf and football, and won state honors in swimming and tennis. His love of swimming continued his entire life. He won a contest for swimming the most miles in one month at Spenco Athletic Club in the 80’s. He loved winning that competition against younger guys! He also enjoyed water skiing on Lake Waco with his children and skiied into his 70s with his Golden Pond Ski Club of close friends. Stanley earned a BBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated second in his business school class. He joined Foley’s in Houston as an executive trainee, thus beginning a highly successful career in retailing. In 1954, he joined his father in the family business, Leon’s Inc. and became President in 1962. Under his leadership, the firm expanded into 45 stores with leased shoe departments in 10 states. Stanley built the company into a successful business which was well-known by generations of Wacoans for shoes, clothing and accessories sold at Leon’s Cinderella, Cox’s Department Stores, The Booterie, Lewis Shoe Stores and the Shoe Market. He was known in Waco as the “Shoe King.” Probably every woman over 40 in this area today still has a favorite pair of shoes from Cinderella in her closet. Stanley loved his adopted hometown of Waco and became an active civic leader, serving 12 years on the Hillcrest Hospital Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Temple Rodef Sholom, the Waco Business League and the Rotary Club of Waco. He was a patron of the Art Center and the Waco Symphony, and he and Glenda established an endowed scholarship at McLennan Community College. He was President of the National Shoe Retailers Association and served 12 years on the Board. The organization voted him into their Inaugural Hall of Fame in 2012, their highest honor. He was also an active member of Young Presidents Organization / World Presidents Organization for over 40 years. Stanley married the love of his life on Feb. 11, 1981. He and Glenda Gilchrest met at the first Art Center Auction where he told her she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. Their favorite song, “Some Enchanted Evening” describes the magic of their relationship. On breaks from their busy careers and after both retired, Stan and Glenda enjoyed travel, including visiting every continent. Their favorite country was Italy, which they visited eight times, once at the request of the Italian shoe industry which sought his expertise in retailing. In Waco, Stanley enjoyed lunches with good friends, music and theater events, and especially Baylor football and basketball games. He and Glenda had season tickets for all Baylor football and men’s and women’s basketball games and enthusiastically supported their Bears. Stan was one of the friendliest businessmen you would ever meet. He had a gentle demeanor and could light up a room with his warm smile for everyone and his sharp sense of humor. He loved life in general, dancing and parties in particular, and wanted to share that love with his family and his friends. Stanley was predeceased by his parents and his daughter, Dana Rachel Strum. Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife Glenda; his daughter Rebecca Thomas and her husband, Keith, of Berkeley, CA.; his son, Dan Strum and wife, Olga, of La Jolla, CA.; his stepsons, David Gilchrest of Grapevine, TX. and Eric Gilchrest and wife, Susan, of Southlake, TX.; Grandchildren, Eliza Sarasohn and husband, Adam, Margie Sockler, Kate Thomas, Marcus Strum, Anna Strum and Stanley Strum, Matt Gilchrest and Christina Gilchrest; great-grandchildren, Gray Sarasohn and August Sarasohn; his sister, Shirley Strum Kenny and husband, Robert, of McLean, VA.; and his sister-in-law, Mildred Blowen of Tyler. Donations in his memory may be made to Stanley & Glenda Strum Endowed Scholarship Fund, MCC Foundation, 1400 College Avenue, Waco, TX 76708, or a favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.