Leland Terflinger

Leland G. Terflinger entered the world in 1931, the third of three children - a little brother to two sisters - in a family working their way through the Great Depression. By age 10, he had two paper routes, delivering news of World War II to the front porches of homes in Chillicothe, Ohio for several years.

As a teen, he ran deliveries for the local pharmacy where he also worked the soda counter. When he went to work at Jim McGarvey's filling station, Lee learned that he had a knack for fixing cars. As a US Army mechanic stationed in France, he repaired WWII-era trucks and tanks for use during the Korean War.

Once back in the states, be began carrying mail for the US Postal Service, eventually becoming a Postal Inspector. When a friend in Columbus introduced Lee to a grade school teacher - who, at the age of 34, thought of herself as an old maid - he found love. Lee and Glady were married for 52 years before she passed away.

In his retirement, Lee held a series of jobs and volunteer positions where he enjoyed learning new things and helping others. He got a real estate license, delivered nuclear medical tests to area hospitals, conducted tours at the Benjamin Hanby House in Westerville, served as a church trustee, was a volunteer tax preparer, built homes with Habitat for Humanity, and - in what was probably his favorite pastime of all - he worked with a talented group of volunteers to restore a B-17 at Champaign Aviation Museum in Urbana, Ohio. It's difficult to overstate his dedication to detail (just ask anyone who ever heard him talk about ailerons) and his devotion to the project, and to his friends, at Grimes Field.

He enjoyed boating all of his life, putting to good use a canoe, kayak, sailboat, and several motor boats. It probably started when he and some high school friends chipped in together to buy a ski boat to use on Lake White in Pike County. There, he earned lifelong bragging rights by being the guy who could waterski while standing on his head.

He moved to Northeast Ohio to be closer to family and more available to attend his grandkids' soccer games and countless other fun occasions. The whole family delighted in his presence at the family dining table - even when he beat them all at Jenga.

In a retirement community in Cuyahoga Falls, he found new, dear friends, and continued to tinker and repair whatever he could - and he could fix almost anything. He was also a formidable opponent in Trivial Pursuit and a good-natured Rummikub and Bingo player. He found a special friend in Phyllis and enjoyed many game nights and holiday parties with her.

Lee was many other things: an accomplished photographer who developed his own prints; an eager volunteer when a friend needed help moving, painting, or fixing anything. He helped his father build the family's home in Chillicothe. He was an excellent Buckeye maker, supplying enough of the candies for everyone at the reunion to have their fill and to take some home. He was an avid reader, finishing nearly every nonfiction book on American and European history that he could find in Ohio's libraries.

Lee Terflinger passed away in November, surrounded by family and the very kind and caring staff at Cardinal Village. As per his wishes, his body will be used for medical education.

Lee never wanted anyone to make a fuss over him, and he did not want a funeral. But, he said, "you might have a party." He loved to gather with good friends to sip a little bourbon, enjoy conversation, laughter, and ice cream (any flavor would do). If you wish to honor him, make the most of every day you have by learning new things, helping others, being a good friend, and recognizing that there is always time for dessert.