Joseph W. Leonard

JOSEPH W.
LEONARD, 88

WINTER HAVEN - Mr. Joseph William Leonard, 88, of Winter Haven, formerly of Kennett Square, PA, passed away on March 12, 2011, in Winter Haven of congestive heart failure. Joe was born August 6, 1922, to the late James Louis Leonard and Anna Cecelia Monihan of Kennett Square, PA. His beloved wife of 62 years, Peggy Leonard, predeceased him in September 2010.
Joe was a 1940 graduate of Kennett High School where he lettered in track and field. During high school he discovered his life long passion of aviation. He learned to fly at the old du Pont Flying Field in Wilmington, DE, and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol for 70 years. In 1943 he entered the Navy Air Corps and graduated from Navy Pre-Flight at the University of Georgia. He then completed elimination flight training at Lambert Field in St. Louis and became an Army Instructor Pilot at Fletcher Field in Clarksdale, MS. He taught primary flight training for two years. After the war, Joe was a crop duster for a few years before settling back in Kennett Square with Peggy.
Joe was co-owner of Kennett Square Motors for many years. He consistently won awards from Ford Motor Company for being one of their top salesmen. He loved people and enjoyed talking and telling stories, particularly stories relating to airplanes.
Joe was a performer in many air shows and loved to fly the Stearman and AT-6 and buzz numerous people and locations in the Kennett Square area. When Peggy and he moved back to her hometown of Lakeland, FL, he became a Warbird judge at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In for over 20 years. His knowledge of WWII aircraft was extensive and he was consulted by numerous restorers over the years. Joe was also active in the Experimental Aircraft Association in Winter Haven. He enjoyed spending his days with the gang of old pilots at the Winter Haven airport and reliving the golden days of aviation.
Joe loved his family and was a great inspiration to his children and grandchildren. He lived life to the fullest and taught them to do the same. He is survived by five children, Catherine Leonard (Tony Rosowski), Yardley, PA, Diane Timoney (Gregory), Jacksonville, FL, Colleen Martin (Barry), Lakeland, FL, Margaret Leonard (Scott Martucci) Las Vegas, NV, and Michael Leonard (Mary Jerome), Winter Haven, FL, with whom he lived. Joe is also survived by five grandchildren, Elizabeth Cava (Gerald Gakundhi), LT Ellen Cava, 2LT Ryan Timoney, William Timoney, and Joseph Martin (Elisabeth) and two beautiful great-granddaughters, Sophia and Amelia Martin. He was predeceased by one brother, James Leonard.
A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church in Winter Haven at 11 a.m. on Monday March 14. At a later date, there will be a mass at St. Patrick Church in Kennett Square, PA, for Peggy and him, and they will be buried in St. Patrick Cemetery.