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Thomas Dexter Strong, 73, of Arnold and Scarborough, Maine, died Dec. 4 at Anne Arundel Medical Center of complications of diabetes.

Mr. Strong was born Sept. 15, 1932, in Saginaw, Mich., and was reared in Plymouth and Grand Rapids, Mich. He graduated in 1950 from Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids and then served in the Air Force for four years during the Korean War. He was stationed in Alaska and Minnesota.

He graduated in 1958 from Michigan State University's School of Police Administration and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. After serving for a year as a probation officer in Saginaw, he worked for the Secret Service from 1959 to 1985. In 1967 he established the public safety department at Oakland University in Rochester, Minn. After retirement from the Secret Service, he worked 10 years for the Inspector General's Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

Mr. Strong was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 152 in Redford, Mich., and was past president of the Association of Former Agents, U.S. Secret Service. He belonged to Merritt Athletic Club and played racquetball in the Senior Olympics.

Surviving are his wife, the former Nancy Jean Pickard, whom he married on Sept. 1, 1956; one daughter, Lauren S. Cowan of Crofton; two sons, Thomas M. Strong of Ashburn, Va., and Mark J. Strong of Baltimore; one brother, Dr. M. Jerome Strong of San Francisco, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday followed by services at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. Burial will be private. Online condolences may be made to www.barrancofuneralhome.com

Donations may be made to the U.S. Secret Service Employee Recreation Association Helping Hands Fund, P.O. Box 710333, Oak Hill, VA 20171-0333

As published on 12/7/2005 in The Capital Newspaper, Annapolis, MD