Leonard Edwin "Cy" Aylesworth

Leonard Edwin Aylesworth
of Panama City, Fla.
Leonard Edwin Aylesworth, known to everyone as "Cy" since he was a young man, passed away September 16, 2008. Cy was predeceased by his parents, Harvey and Eva Aylesworth, Kattelville (Binghamton), N.Y.; his sister, Marion Cunningham; and brother, H. Richard Aylesworth. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary (Portz) Aylesworth. In addition, survivors include his daughter, Ruth (Aylesworth) Bardeen and husband, Irving; son, Chris Aylesworth and wife, Gayle; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Aylesworth, Brendan Aylesworth, Matthew Bardeen and wife, Veronica, Christopher Bardeen and wife, Denise, Jillian Aylesworth Lee and husband, Patrick, Daniel Bardeen and wife, Erin, and Ryan Alyesworth and wife, Laura; and one great-granddaughter, Maggie Bardeen. Cy passed away while a resident of the Clifford Chester Sims State Veteran's Administration Nursing Home. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps (USAF) in 1942, and served through late 1944 as a member of the Flying Tigers, flying a P-40 in missions into China during WWII. He left active duty in 1945, and was discharged as a Major by the USAF in 1958. Married on December 8, 1944, Cy and Mary raised their family in Johnson City, N.Y., and the family shared many vacations at their summer cottage on Sandy Pond off the eastern end of Lake Ontario. Cy was as industrious in business as he was in his family life. He started, owned, and operated three successful businesses during his lifetime. Two businesses were operated in nearby Binghamton, N.Y. before leaving the area in 1974 to open a Safari Campground in Stafford, Va. After selling his own campground in 1979, he continued to work as a representative of Safari (Jellystone Parks) for a number of years, traveling the country assisting other franchise campground owners. Cy and Mary retired to Panama City in 1989, where he became one of the founding members of Emmaus United Methodist Church. Cy was personally instrumental in the construction of the original portion of the present structure on Highway 2297 in Sandy Creek and in development of the church as a whole.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 20, 2008, at Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jack Hankins officiating. Entombment will follow at Garden of Memories Mausoleum with Military Honors by the USAF. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, September 19, 2008, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Asked to serve as pallbearers are Richard Carroll, Curt Wolstenholm, Robert Fleming, Wiley Cobb, Duane Preszler, and Rex Barrentine. The family extends special thanks to, and encourages donations, in lieu of flowers, to Emerald Coast Hospice, Emmaus United Methodist Church or Sims VA Nursing Home. Kent Forest Lawn, 2403 Harrison Avenue, 763-4694.