Larry Alan Strain

Larry Alan Strain, age 67, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on March 7, 2026. Born in Toledo, Ohio, on December 19, 1958, to Richard Lee Strain and Eva Mae Sharp Strain, he grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he attended Freedom High School. Larry went on to earn a B.S. in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia in 1981 and a Master of Business Administration from Lehigh University in 1988. He held numerous professional certifications, including Certified Business Analyst with the Florida Small Business Development Center Network and Certified Examiner with the Strategic Management Assessment Review Tool through the Missouri Small Business Development Centers. He was also a graduate of Leadership Santa Rosa Class 25.

Larry found great joy in golfing, cooking alongside his son Rusty, and sharing in family sports, particularly fantasy football. He cherished family dinners, holiday celebrations, and the time spent with his grandchildren, Elias and Landon. He held deep affection for the family pets—Tucker, Sadie, Maple, and Sassy—and maintained warm connections with many friends and associates. He took special pride in A RustycSpoon and its values, while remaining actively involved in the community through numerous leadership roles, including service on the boards of the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Santa Rosa County, CareerSource EscaRosa, Rebuild Northwest Florida, Bay Area Food Bank, and several other organizations dedicated to economic development and service.

Larry received many honors for his professional contributions and community leadership, among them the 2012 Pace Award as Professional Leader of the Year from the Greater Pensacola Chamber, multiple Florida Small Business Development Center awards in 2011, the Fred Hunter Spirit of Santa Rosa Award, and the University of West Florida’s Million Dollar Research Club recognition.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard L. Strain. Larry is survived by his mother, Eva M. Strain of Easton, Pennsylvania; his wife, Sue Strain of Cantonment, Florida; his daughter, Stephanie Spar of Pensacola, Florida; his son Rusty (Kaitlyn) Strain of Pace, Florida; his grandsons, Elias M. Cintron and Landon G. Strain of Pensacola, Florida; and his brothers, Timothy Strain of Easton, Pennsylvania, and David Strain of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.