West Lafayette, Indiana - Jerry Deane Stringfellow, 93, of West Lafayette, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at IU Health Arnett Hospital.

He was born Oct. 13, 1931, in Atlantic, Iowa, to the late Wayne Harris and Beth Edna (Parker) Stringfellow.

Jerry graduated from Keokuk High School in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1949. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1956. Under the GI Bill, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Iowa in 1959.

On June 3, 1951, he married the love of his life, Marilyn Joy Young, in Keokuk, Iowa. She preceded him in death on Dec. 5, 2024.

Jerry worked for GenCorp (formerly The General Tire and Rubber Company) for 35 years, and retired in 1996. He was a proud member of the engineering team that designed the joint connection gasket for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Transbay Tube in the late 1960s.

Jerry's life revolved around music. He learned to play the trumpet at an early age and landed his first "gigs" at age 12 during WWII, where he replaced the young GIs who had gone off to war. As a Staff Sergeant for the United States Air Force, he played trumpet in the 695th Air Force Band in Great Falls, Montana. During the course of his life, Jerry played in jazz bands, swing bands and big bands. During the 1980's, he played trumpet in several pit bands at McHale Auditorium.

Surviving are his children: Richard (Linda) Stringfellow of Morgantown, Indiana, James (Patricia) Stringfellow of Frankfort, Indiana, David (Terri) Stringfellow of Thornton, Colorado and Julie (Bryan) Scott of Lafayette, Indiana; grandchildren: Keaton Stringfellow, Joshua (Catherine) Stringfellow, Jonathan (Alyssa) Stringfellow, Hannah Stringfellow, Grace Stringfellow, Brad (Kimi) Scott, Lee (Jenny Crump) Renshaw and Loranne (Justin) Ennis; great-grandchildren: Delilah, Daphne, Daniel, Darcy, Emory, Cooper, Jackson and Lenora.

Jerry was preceded in death by two grandsons, Philip Stringfellow and Joseph Stringfellow.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of West Lafayette, any AFM local union, The University of Iowa, Purdue University, the Lafayette Community Band or the Kokomo Park Band.

You may leave condolences and memories at www.soller-baker.com.