Merle Edward Strickland

With great joy in his heavenly reward and heavy hearts for our earthly loss, we announce the promotion to Glory of Chaplain (Commander) Merle Edward Strickland, 98, on June 11th, 2026.

Chaplain Strickland was born in Alexandria, LA, February 26th, 1928. He was the son of the late Martin Ivy Strickland and Marie Anastasia (Leir) Strickland. Also preceding him in death was his devoted wife of 66 years, Helen Joyce (Savell) Strickland and his five siblings.

Chaplain Strickland had an amazing career In the United States Navy. He first served as a Seaman First Class in 1946 where he earned the WW II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation w/Asia Clasp and the China Service Medal. He was honorably discharged after two years and then entered the reserves. After receiving the Lord’s call to full-time Christian service, he attended Memphis State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. He became pastor of Argonne Heights Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. for two years. During that time, he felt the Lord leading him into ministry as a Navy Chaplain. He re-enlisted into the Navy in 1968 and served his country proudly with Navy Sailors and Marines until his retirement in 1988 with a total of 26 years of service. During his time as a Navy Chaplain he comforted, counseled and led many souls to know Jesus Christ.

His decorations include The National Defense Medal, MUC w/Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ Bronze Star, NUC, Humanitarian Services Medal w/Numeral 2, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/Bronze Star.

Known as Chaplain, Padre, Pastor, Brother Merle, Strick, Daddy, Papa, Old Papa and Friend. He was beloved by all that knew him. He loved his friends and family deeply with unconditional love.

Chaplain Strickland is survived by his daughter, Denise Wulforst, son-in-law, James Wulforst, Granddaughter Jesseca Allen, grandson-in-law, Tommy Allen and great-grandchildren Stella and Scarlett Allen, nieces, nephews and numerous friends.

“His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;” Matthew 25:23

Below you will find Chaplain Strickland ‘s personal testimony. It was the desire of his heart that all who knew him, whether near or far, would come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Merle E. Strickland’s Testimony

My Life Before Christ

My mother took me to church every Sunday. The church we went to was not an evangelical church but taught what is called a social gospel. I was sprinkled into that church at about age ten. I was never active in church and lived a life without any morals; drinking, stealing, fighting, and gambling. My mother died when I was seventeen years old and I quit high school and joined the Navy. I became more active in living without any morals, drinking more and very nearly became an alcoholic. I got out of the Navy and got my high school diploma. I continued to live a terrible life. I was put in jail, had no job and lived by taking money from friends and girlfriends. My life was a life of shame.

How I met Christ

I met the girl I would marry in an elevator. I reduced my drinking, went to Business College and got a regular job. My wife and I moved to Memphis, TN and bought a house near a Baptist church. A group of men met regularly at the church and did carpentry work on the building which was under construction. Those men were different. They did not drink alcohol, did not curse and swear and enjoyed their life more than I did mine. I wanted to be like them. The Pastor of the church talked to me and told me I could know that life also through learning about Jesus Christ and following Him. I was baptized into the church and began to read the Bible and pray. I learned what it meant to live for Christ.

My Life After Receiving Christ

I became active in church. Two doctors told my wife that she probably would not have any children, but we prayed that God would bless us and let us have a baby and after six years of marriage, we became parents of a baby girl. After being a Sunday School teacher, choir member, usher and a Deacon, I felt that there was more I should be doing for Christ. On Easter Sunday 1959, I came down from the choir and gave my life for full-time Christian service. I enrolled in college part time. Then I was fired from my job because I would not tell a lie to a government official. I could not understand why God would let that happen to me when I was studying to become a minister. Since I had no job, I became a full-time student and found part-time jobs. My wife worked and supported our family while I went to college. I graduated from college and went to Seminary. My wife continued to work. After seminary I pastored a church but felt that God wanted me to become a Navy Chaplain. When I applied to join the Navy, I learned why God allowed me to be fired from my job. If I had continued to work and go to college, I would have been too old to be accepted by the Navy. At age 40 I went back into the Navy and served 20 years and retired. I have continued to work for Christ but not as a pastor. I do carpentry work and try to show people the love of Christ through my work. I have gone on mission trips to Moscow, Russia to help build the first evangelical stand-alone church built there since 1917; the Dominican Republic four times; once to rebuild houses after a hurricane, resulting in 5 new churches being started and once to build a church in Sammy Sosa's hometown; and again, to build church furniture and finally to build sewing tables for missionaries to use in outreach to the Dominican women. I continue to conduct worship in assisted living homes, teach, sing, build and serve where needed.