Elizabeth "Floy" (Strickland) Wang

Elizabeth Floy Wang, 73, of Chattanooga, died on August 30, 2020, at Hospice of Chattanooga.

Floy was born on April 17, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama to Paul H. and Floy (Welsh) Strickland.  Floy attended the University of Alabama where she graduated with a degree in music and a minor in German.  After college, she went to Germany, worked at the United States Army Service Club, continued her study of viola at the Nordbayerishe Conservatorium der Musik in Wurzburg, and met her husband, Thomas Wang, Sr.  They relocated to El Paso, Texas, where their son Thomas Wang Jr., was born.  The family lived in Mainz-Kostheim, Germany and Olympia, Washington before settling in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1981.

Floy obtained an MM in viola performance at UTC in 1983, studying with Dr. Barbara Creider.  She dearly loved the viola, secretly enjoyed viola jokes, and continued her life’s work as a musician and teacher.  She played in the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and in many small ensemble groups over the years.  She taught at the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences and developed the orchestra program at Girls Preparatory School. To everyone’s surprise, including hers, she also succeeded in starting the rowing program at GPS, which later christened a rowing shell in her honor.  After her retirement from GPS she served as the Master Teacher for the UTC String Project, and mentored countless violin and viola students in private lessons.  She also served as the Tennessee All State Orchestra Chair and directed the Chattanooga Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Her friendly smile and grace belied her strong will and determination.
 

In addition to teaching, she had many interests and was a lifelong learner. She was an avid and accomplished amateur painter, devoured mystery novels, and continued her study of the German language and German cuisine. 

She was preceded in death by her “best beloved” husband, Thomas Wang, Sr., and her father, Paul Strickland.

She is survived by her mother, Floy Strickland, of Chattanooga, her son, Thomas Wang and daugher-in-law, Colleen Savoie, of Anchorage, Alaska; her brother, Paul Strickland and sister-in-law, Jan Strickland, of Dallas, Texas; and her step-daughters, Claudia Bakenhus and Teresa Heller of Elma, Washington.
  

A private graveside service will be held in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date when it is possible to gather to joyously remember her. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends and family consider donations to a scholarship that has been established in Floy’s name by the Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra.  To donate, go to www.chattanoogasymphony.org/ click “support” and follow the menus to direct the funds to the CSOYO Tuition Scholarship program and specify that the donation is made in memory of Floy. 

Arrangements have been made by Heritage Funeral Home 7454 E. Brainerd Rd.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.