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Laban Chester Strite, 81, was born April 26, 1929, in Hagerstown, to Chester and Flora Strite. He was the youngest brother of Kermit, Elmer and Thelma.
After a lengthy illness, Laban passed peacefully from this world on April 9, at home in Florence, Oregon, with Anne, his wife of 39 years, by his side.
Laban’s favorite prayer, “Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me,” was fulfilled in his life journey. He became minister, educator and psychologist, bringing passionate commitment and an adventurous spirit to his work and the people he encountered. It was often said of Laban that he was “ahead of his time,” a catalyst for change, bringing new ideas and creating innovative programs to serve the students and patients he worked with.
Raised as a member of the Longmeadow Church of the Brethren, he was ordained at 16. In 1949, he participated in the “Peace Caravan” program with the Brethren Volunteer Service. While ministering to his first congregation in Sugar Grove, W.Va., he received his degree from Bridgewater College. In 1953, he moved his family to California to pursue graduate studies at USC on scholarship, while also teaching and counseling students. As a psychologist, he focused on family therapy and brought the holistic model of mind, body and spirit to the healing process. He shared this approach in his work as psychologist in ongoing private practice; staff psychologist at Casa Colina Rehabilitation Hospital; and school psychologist, working with children in California, Nevada and Arizona. In 2005, Laban and Anne moved to Florence to take up his next position as school psychologist, and to be near the ocean, which they loved.
He is survived by wife, Anne; his daughters, Karen Sciba and Linda Strite, both of Napa, Calif.; and sister, Thelma Sollenberger, of Ohio; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private memorial was held in Florence.