When you talk about a Lodge with strong family lineage, Weston Lodge #560 in the 11th Masonic District has just that! The Strow family name is one that has been a constant for many years at Weston Lodge! Not only is the name synonymous with Weston, but it is also synonymous with servant leadership.
The Strow family’s Masonic heritage started with Dr. Raymond M. Strow who was Initiated, Passed, and Raised in the spring of 1916. Although there is no record of Dr. Strow taking an officer’s role at Weston Lodge, there is record of him being a proud 50-year Mason! His son, WB Raymond K. Strow, received his Master Mason shortly after his father in the fall of 1920 and immediately became active in the Lodge. Raymond served Weston Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1942. His time to rest from his Masonic labors was short as he was elected to serve as the Lodge Secretary in 1943. He would continue this role until his passing in 1984. During his time, he served as Secretary for 42 years and was a 64-year Mason! Raymond’s son, Robert A. Strow, who had previously served Weston Lodge as Master, took up his father’s reigns as Secretary and continued to serve his Lodge until his untimely death in 1999. During Robert’s time, he served as Secretary for 15 years, was Worshipful Master, and was a proud 42-year Mason. WB Robert A. Stow was lucky enough to have his sons join Weston Lodge and become Brothers with him as well! Robert J. Strow joined in 2002 and has been a proud Freemason for over 22 years. His Brother, Richard K. Strow followed in his father’s footsteps a few years earlier, petitioning and being raised in 1983. Since that moment, he has served as Worshipful Master as well and, when his father passed to the Celestial Lodge above, WB Richard took over the reigns as Lodge Secretary in 1999 and has been serving in that role until the present day!
Richard noted that “Growing up, my grandparents’ house where I now reside and my parents’ house were on our family farm, just across the road from each other. When my grandfather passed away my father walked across the road, gathered up the Lodge Secretary satchel, and took it to his house. When my father passed away in 1999, I walked across the road, gathered up the satchel, and carried it back across the road where it is today.”
From: Great Grandfather Dr. Strow, to Grandfather WB Raymond Strow, Father WB Robert A. Strow, to Brothers Robert J. Strow and WB Richard K. Strow. The Strow family has been a model for servant leadership and a pillar of Weston Lodge since 1916. They have a total of 220 years as Freemasons and a consecutive 83 years – from 1942 until today – serving as Lodge Secretary.
