Robert Paul Stranahan, Iii

Robert Paul Stranahan III, age 63, died at his home on April 4, 2024. He was born on June 22, 1960 to the late Robert and Louise Stranahan.

Robert grew up in Bethesda, Maryland where he engaged in such youthful pursuits as climbing the Washington National Cathedral. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1981 with a degree in zoology and afterwards received his certification as a Medical Technologist from Duke University. After a few wild and crazy years in Los Angeles, California, Robert, to the surprise of everyone, followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by enrolling in law school. He received his JD in 1992 from the University of North Carolina, proving himself a diehard Tarheel. Rather than take a job in Washington, DC with a private firm, Robert chose to raise his family in North Carolina, working as a special counsel for the state at Dorothea Dix hospital and Central Regional hospital. While working for the state entailed a lower salary, Robert was able to spend more time with his family whom he was devoted to and to help many people through various charities and through regular blood donations.

Robert was loved and respected by everyone who met him, always able to maintain a cool head and lighten the atmosphere with a bit of humor. With a strong sense of duty, impeccable integrity, and selfless dedication to his friends and family, he set a powerful example by which his surviving loved ones may live by.

He enjoyed hiking, fishing, kayaking and amusing his children with endless dad jokes. Robert had an exceptional ability to remember factoids, trivia, and minutia, and his speed at filling out crossword puzzles was unmatched. He remains undefeated in Trivial Pursuit.

Robert is survived by wife Diane, daughters Lauren and Emily, sisters Susan Florance and Carol Applegate, his dog Lucy, and grand-kitties Riley, Squirt, Goya, Sese, Pip, and Bean.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Carolina Nature Conservancy or World Central Kitchen.