William B. Strickland Jr.; Former Police Chief

William B. Strickland Jr., a former interim police chief for the city of Ventura, died Wednesday at home. He was 83.

Strickland, who was born in Saspamco, Tex., was a resident of Ventura County for more than 80 years and served the Police Department in various capacities for more than 25 years.

“He was a very hard-working person. He loved his job very much . . . especially at the Police Department,” said his daughter Sheila Peo of Camarillo.

Peo said her father worked at many jobs before joining the police.

“He was a milkman, he had a service station, he worked in a tire factory,” she said.

In his spare time, Strickland liked to build.

“He loved to tinker with things. He’d make these little St. Christopher chapel things to put in the yard,” Peo said.

In addition to his daughter, Strickland is survived by his sister, Alice Develter of Chico, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

His wife of almost 50 years, Sue Strickland, and a daughter, Sharon Brown, preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home Chapel, 757 E. Main St., Ventura.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.