Gwendolyn H. Strawn

Gwendolyn Hill “Dink” Strawn was born on December 19, 1929, to the late Louis and Ethel Hill. She was the eighth child born to this union and the last surviving sibling, now reunited with her family in glory.

Gwen attended Charles Sumner Elementary and graduated with honors from Lincoln (R.T. Coles) High School. Her academic excellence earned her a scholarship to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where she majored in journalism. While at Lincoln, she played an integral role in publishing the college yearbook and it was during this time she met the love of her life, Wilbur Aaron Strawn Sr. The two were married and spent more than 60 years together until his passing.

Their union was blessed with three children: Wilbur Aaron Strawn Jr. (deceased), Lisa Strawn Adams, and Lance V. Strawn, both of Kansas City, Missouri.

Known affectionately as “Dink,” Gwen was a devoted educator who taught in the Kansas City Missouri School District. As a fifth-grade teacher at Greenwood Elementary, she touched the lives of countless students, encouraging them to pursue further education. She retired in 1965 after years of dedicated service. After retiring from teaching, Gwen helped her husband build his successful real estate brokerage business. Alongside her two sisters, Curtiss and Holland, she also founded CG&H Chow Chow, a popular chow chow relish company that was sold in local grocery stores for many years.

In addition to her business endeavors, Gwen provided home health care for four of her siblings during their final years. She later became a published author, completing a book that took her 10 years to write.

Gwen was an excellent cook and baker, and her home was often filled with the warm, delicious smells of her cooking, especially during the holidays. She was known for her personal recipe collection and her ability to add her own special touch to any dish. Gwen also loved watching the Kansas City Chiefs and spending time fishing at the Lake of the Ozarks.

She was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Les Honet Mo-Kans Club. Gwen was also featured in the documentary “My Mother’s Club” by filmmaker Rodney Thompson, which highlighted the social clubs of African American women in Kansas City from the 1940s to 1960s.

Her faith was a cornerstone of her life. Gwen was a faithful member of St. Paul Presbyterian Church, where she served as a choir member, deacon, elder, and was deeply involved in the women’s organization.

Gwen leaves behind her children, Lance V. Strawn and Lisa Strawn Adams; her grandchildren, Melissa Adams Pearson (Joel) and Don W. Austin Adams Jr.; and three great-grandchildren, Josiah, Nicholas, and Analise Pearson. She is also survived by a host of loving family members and dear friends.

Her legacy of love, kindness, and dedication will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.