Published: October 03, 2009 08:17 pm      

Lt. Commander Charles R. Leonard

Services for Charles R. Leonard, 87, of Palestine will be 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Linda Herron officiating.  An Irish wake will follow at the Redlands Building 2nd floor, in celebration of Charles Leonard’s wonderful life. Burial will be Tuesday evening in a family cemetery outside of Carrizo Springs under the direction of Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home.

Mr. Leonard died Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler.

Charles was born Sept. 10, 1922, to Vernon and Terah Petty Leonard. Charles had lived in Palestine for the last four years. He was a lifetime member of St. Paul Presbyterian Church in San Angelo.  Charles was a retired Lt. Commander in the United States Navy and was a World War II Navy fighter pilot. Charles is one of the last members of “The Greatest Generation.” During his career he published many articles, culminating his writing career as the co-author of “Crommelin’s Thunderbirds,” a history of the Pacific Theater.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Cottle-Leonard of Palestine; daughter, Aleta Willmon and husband, Howard of Carrizo Springs; stepchildren, Lynn Jacobs of Colorado Springs, Colo., John Gerald Whistler of Pflugerville, Bliss DiJulio of Monument, Colo.; sister, Mary Wisdom and husband Earl of San Angelo; grandchildren, Stacy Messex and husband Deane, Tracy Peters and husband Brandon; four step grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers will be Howard Willmon, John Gerald Whistler, Bill Tatum, Roy Stark, Jeff Jacobs, Dylan DiJulio, Deane Messex and Brandon Peters.

Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday Oct. 4, 2009 at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Library Memorial Fund, Palestine Public Library; Attn.: Carol Herrington; 1101 N. Cedar St., Palestine, TX 75801.