William R. Leonard

The best Dad ever went to join the love of his life on March 16, 2015. William R. "Bill" Leonard was born on July 25, 1922, to Andrew S. and Nannie (Bloomer) Leonard in Arcadia, KS. He grew up around Pawnee Station and graduated from Fort Scott High School. He met the aforementioned "love of his life" on May 19, 1940, on the second cow pile of Pawnee Station Baseball field in Harry Dunn's cow pasture.

Bill entered the U.S. Army on November 10, 1942, at Fort Leavenworth, KS. While at Camp Polk near Leesville, LA, he hitch-hiked home and on a 3 day pass, married Dellabelle Teague on April 29, 1944. She died on March 2, 2007.

Bill was a radio operator for "A" Troop, 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division. After the war, he co-owned a service station in Fort Scott with a good friend. He came to McPherson in 1949 on the G.I. bill to work for Caliendo Motors. He worked for the Ford dealership in McPherson for many years as a mechanic. Later he worked in maintenance for Johns Manville until retirement.

Bill was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, and Eastern Star, all of McPherson.

Bill is survived by: his daughters, Dawn Wilkey, of Lyons, and Billie (Daryl) Unruh of McPherson; daughter-in-law, Charlotte Leonard of Wichita; grandchildren, Mark (Lynnette) Blagoevgrad of Bulgaria, Beth (Chad) Johnson of Overland Park, Dallas (Jen) Unruh of Lake Charles, LA, Dustin (Randie) Unruh of Lumberton,TX, and Dillon (Lakyn) Unruh of Beaumont, TX; great-grandchildren, Spencer and Haylee Johnson of Overland Park and Khodie, Drake, and Devyn Unruh of Lumberton, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers, John and Floyd, sisters, Wilma, Bertha, and Martha Jane, his son, John, and his son-in-law, Hadley.

The graveside service with Military Honors will be at 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Pleasant Valley Sheffield Cemetery in Arcadia, KS.

The family suggests memorial donations be given to the American Diabetes Association or the Lyons Good Samaritan Center in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of William R. Leonard please visit our Sympathy Store.