Carroll Leonard

PINEY FLATS – William Carroll Leonard, 73, died at the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital surrounded by his family on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007.
He was born Jan. 2, 1934, and was a native of Washington County. Mr. Leonard was a son of the late Summers Lyle Leonard Sr. and Myra Belle Leonard.
He attended grammar and high school at ETSU's Teacher Training School, now University School, where he graduated valedictorian in 1952. Mr. Leonard attended Clemson University and graduated with a BS in electrical engineering. While at Clemson, he participated in the ROTC program and graduated with a commission as second lieutenant in the Army Ordinance Corps. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee's Executive Development Program and Raytheon Co.'s Advanced Management Program.
His commission in the U.S. Army Ordinance Corps required eight years in the active reserve, including six months active duty. After spending six months active duty at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland as an assistant instructor in a Field Grade Officers Missile Training Course, he spent six and a half years active reserve in Field Artillery Batteries in Johnson City and Greeneville, Tenn., attaining the rank of captain before being honorably discharged.
He was employed part time as an apprentice carpenter during high school and college to earn college tuition fees. Upon graduation from college, he was employed by Sperry Farragut Company in Bristol Tennessee from June 1956 until January 1957, when he was transferred to Raytheon Co., Missile Systems Division in Bristol. He was employed in the Bristol plant for 33 years, starting as a junior engineer, progressing through engineering and program management positions to plant manager of the Bristol Plant, retiring in 1989.
In 1969, he and his father formed a construction company and briefly built residential homes for the speculative market, with his father serving as superintendent. He was accepted as a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 1972 as a craftsman in woodworking and continued his membership. Other hobbies included tying trout flies and doing church work on the computer.
Mr. Leonard was a member of the Piney Flats Ruritan Club for several years, serving in local club offices and as zone governor. He was a member of the board of various organizations in the Tri-Cities from time to time. These organizations included the Bristol Regional Rehabilitation Center, Northeast State Technical Community College, Rocky Mount Historical Museum and First Tennessee Bank of Bristol/Kingsport. He was a member of the M.M. Martin Lodge 547, Free and Accepted Masons. He served on several occasions in fund raising campaigns for the Bristol United Way.
Mr. Leonard was a member of New Bethel Presbyterian Church, Piney Flats, where he, most recently, served as chairman of the building expansion planning committee and as an advisor to the building committee. He also designed and provided monthly updates for the churches' Web page and participated in the preparation of church bulletins and monthly newsletters.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Leonard was preceded in death by his oldest son, Jeffrey Alan Leonard, and one brother, Summers Lyle Leonard Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra M. Leonard of Piney Flats; and a son, Gary Wayne Leonard and daughter-in-law Amy of Gray; two grandchildren, Jacob and Jessica Leonard of Gray; one sister-in-law, Ann Leonard, Vancouver, Wash.; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Ellen and Charles Sapp of Louden, Deanna and Bob Barnett of Louden and Mary Nelle and Bob Smith of Johnson City; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life service for Mr. Leonard will be conducted Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, at 2 p.m. in the East Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Home, with Dr. Andrew E. Spence Jr. officiating. Music will be under the direction of Debbie Thomas, soloist, and Roddy Byrd, organist. Interment will follow in Monte Vista Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers will be Jim Hiett, James Lynch, Kevin Nichols, Shelby Painter, Reed Thomas and Dean Torbett. Honorary pallbearers will be David Dixon, Graham Hodges, Mark Hodges, Bob Pierce, Charlie Rutledge, Litt Raines and Rob Thomas.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:30 until 2 p.m. in the East Parlor of the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Bethel Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 592 New Bethel Road, Piney Flats, TN 37686; or the Holston Presbyterian Camp, P.O. Box 428, Banner Elk, NC 28604. Condolences may be made online at www.appalachianfuneralhome.com.
Appalachian Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 800 E. Watauga Ave., is serving the Leonard family.