Leo William Blakely

Leo William Blakely Battle Creek Leo William Blakely, 87 of Battle Creek, died Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Bronson Methodist Hospital. He was born July 26, 1922 in Fort Smith, Arkansas the son of Leo Woodward and Lillian Rae (Pendell) Blakely. Leo attended high school in Fort Smith, Arkansas and graduated from Fort Smith Arkansas Junior College in 1942. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 until 1965, retiring as a Colonel, and was a P38 pilot with the famed 475th Fighter Group in the Southwest Pacific during WWII. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he was a navigational aids flight inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration from 1967 until 1987. On December 31, 1948 he was married to the former Beatrice E. Hoke, who preceded him in death on September 25, 1999. Surviving are his aunt: Margaret Pendell of Phoenix, AZ; niece: Barb McCabe of Pennsylvania; cousins: Janet (Steve) Stanton of Pasadena, CA, Jim Chapman of Las Vegas, NV, Carter Pendell of Phoenix, AZ, Sally Roper of Fort Smith, AR, Sidney Blakely of Fort Smith, AR and Gayle (Lewis) Nelson of Pasadena, CA; special friends: Burdette and Shannon Bennett, Trina and Scott Niecko, Chelsie and Darian Niecko all of Battle Creek, and Lonnie and Margie Mayo of Three Rivers. The family will receive friends at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. this evening. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Robert L. Zuhl officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo or the Humane Society.