WOODROW WORTH LEONARD

Woody went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, December 9, at the age of 96. He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by his wife Georgia, three sons and their wives (Charles and Phyllis, James and Carolyn, and David and Beverly), eight grandchildren and their spouses, and 19 great-grandchildren. He was a Christian from his boyhood, a member of Sierra Vista United Methodist Church for about 20 years, and made an eternal difference in his sons by raising them as Christians. He was born at Sherwood, Texas on August 7, 1913 to Dr. James Daniel and Eula Lockhart Leonard. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Bronte, Texas where Woody'™s father practiced medicine for nearly 50 years and where Woody graduated from high school. As a youngster he enjoyed sports and outdoor activities, and in 1930 he became an Eagle Scout. He graduated from The Texas School of Mines and Metallurgy '" now called the University of Texas at El Paso '" in 1935. In 1936 he married his long-time sweetheart Esta Mae Fulcher . Woody started his working career in the mining field in New Mexico but mostly worked in engineering and in sales as a Registered Professional Engineer in the oil and steel industries in Ohio, Louisiana, Colorado, and Texas, retiring in 1978, whereupon he and Esta moved from Dallas to San Angelo to be closer to Esta'™s family. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before Esta passed away in San Angelo in 1988. Woody was also predeceased by a brother Dwain of Big Spring and two half-sisters, Imogene and Elizabeth. Eighteen years ago '" in 1991 -- Woody married Georgia Porter Johanson who had retired from enjoying a long career as a Registered Nurse. They'™ve had a wonderful marriage, sharing a number of common interests including rockhounding, jewelry making, and travelling all over the world '" to every continent except Antarctica. In 1993 he won first place in the American Society of Gemcutters'™ Pinnacle contest as well as first place in contemporary faceting, and was awarded the title Certified Supreme Master Faceter. He also had a keen interest in tracing his family'™s history '" to the American Revolution and before. Woody'™s funeral service will be at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church with Reverand Doctor Steven Sweet at 1:30 pm on Monday, December 14, 2009, with burial immediately following at Fairmount Cemetery. A luncheon for family and all friends will be held at the church preceding the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Sierra Vista United Methodist Church or to a church or charity of your choice. All who knew Woody Leonard agree: he was a good and kind man with a sensitive heart for others.