Clarence Lyle "C.L." Strance
May 29, 1931 — March 4, 2024
Claremore, OK
Clarence Lyle "C.L." Strance
Clarence Lyle “C.L.” Strance, 92, of Collinsville, OK, was born May 29, 1931, in Bowlegs, OK, to Herbert John Strance and Leah Violet (Jefferies) Strance. He passed away March 4, 2024, in Claremore, OK.
C.L. grew up in the oil fields south of Oklahoma City. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City with the class of 1948. He went on to attend the University of Oklahoma where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering. C.L. was commissioned into the US Army after completing the ROTC program at the University of Oklahoma. He received his wings as a military pilot, then was stationed in Germany during the Cold War and earned his helicopter rating in 1955. C.L. then transferred to the Army National Guard where he flew Huey, then Loach helicopters until retiring in 1991. C.L. was recognized for his thousands of flight hours in military aircraft. After his regular Army commitment, C.L. worked for Tulsa Public Schools, then had a long career in the oil and gas industry. He worked in oilfield support and was known for his work on pipeline samplers and meter provers. He later met and married Patricia “Pat” Webb in 1995 and they were married until her passing in 2017. After his retirement, C.L. moved to Sandridge Airpark just outside Collinsville where he flew his own L-19 plane, the model that he learned to fly in during Army flight school. He was active in the L-19 owners’ group and was a regular at area fly-ins. He and his wife, Pat hosted a 45th Infantry Division reunion at his hangar for a number of years. These reunions were always well attended by other retirees that C.L. had served with over the years.
He is survived by his son, Peter Strance; daughter, Susan Chandlee; brother, Sherman Strance of Austin, TX; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Strance; daughter, Jan Strance (2018); and sister, Jane Goodner.
Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.
Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.
C.L. grew up in the oil fields south of Oklahoma City. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City with the class of 1948. He went on to attend the University of Oklahoma where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering. C.L. was commissioned into the US Army after completing the ROTC program at the University of Oklahoma. He received his wings as a military pilot, then was stationed in Germany during the Cold War and earned his helicopter rating in 1955. C.L. then transferred to the Army National Guard where he flew Huey, then Loach helicopters until retiring in 1991. C.L. was recognized for his thousands of flight hours in military aircraft. After his regular Army commitment, C.L. worked for Tulsa Public Schools, then had a long career in the oil and gas industry. He worked in oilfield support and was known for his work on pipeline samplers and meter provers. He later met and married Patricia “Pat” Webb in 1995 and they were married until her passing in 2017. After his retirement, C.L. moved to Sandridge Airpark just outside Collinsville where he flew his own L-19 plane, the model that he learned to fly in during Army flight school. He was active in the L-19 owners’ group and was a regular at area fly-ins. He and his wife, Pat hosted a 45th Infantry Division reunion at his hangar for a number of years. These reunions were always well attended by other retirees that C.L. had served with over the years.
He is survived by his son, Peter Strance; daughter, Susan Chandlee; brother, Sherman Strance of Austin, TX; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Strance; daughter, Jan Strance (2018); and sister, Jane Goodner.
Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.
Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.
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