FAIRMONT — John Lee Leonard, local businessman, passed away Tuesday (March 16, 2010) at Monongalia General Hospital following a long illness.
He was born in Fairmont on July 7, 1934, the only son of the late John Allen Leonard and Amelia (Tedesco) Leonard.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Shirley May Moore Leonard.
Mr. Leonard owned and managed service stations in the Fairmont area for more than 50 years. He was the owner and operator of Leonard’s Service Center.
John was an active member of the Church of Christ for more than 30 years. He was a member of the Spruce Street Church of Christ in Fairmont and presently a member of the Shinnston Church of Christ. He served as secretary/treasurer, a Bible teacher and a preacher. He enjoyed West Virginia University sports and fishing. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. His greatest pleasure was being with his family. John was an extremely caring person with a helping heart. He loved helping people, and once you met John Leonard, you never forgot him. He was your friend.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by six loving children, his sons, John Leonard Jr. and his wife Karen, Michael A. Leonard and his wife Cynthia, and Brian K. Leonard and his fiance Julie Watkins, all of Fairmont; his daughters, Beverly Ann Carpenter and her husband Bryan of Wheeling, Brenda K. Schenck and her husband Gary of Fairmont, and Tammi J. Jones and her husband Dee of Fairmont; 19 special grandchildren and their spouses, Robert and Ruth Carpenter, Jason and Meg Carpenter, April and Lee Noel, Tyler Carpenter, Jacob Carpenter, Barry Wayne Leonard, Tina and Chris Herndon, Heather Leonard, Amanda and Alex Lake, Adam Leonard, Stephanie Leonard, Tanya Griffith, Lauralea Griffith, Christopher Leonard, Megan Louk, Tiara Brooks, Darian Jones, Danae Jones and Kareena Jones; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are three sisters, Margaret Wright and her husband Richard of Cleveland, Delores Montone of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Betty Lou Wyer and her husband Larry of Georgetown, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends and family may call at the Carpenter & Ford Funeral Home, 209 Merchant St., Fairmont from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Evangelist Aaron Justice officiating. Interment services will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens. Mr. Leonard’s family would like to thank the staff of the ICU and Monongalia General Hospital for their care, and their friends at Say-Boy Restaurant for their kindness.
Condolences may be sent to the Leonard family at www.carpenterandford.com.
