Dr. Leonard Edwin Dodson, MD

Sebastian - Leonard Edwin Dodson, age 77, passed away, peacefully on September 26, 2024, in Vero Beach, Florida. Born on November 22, 1946, Leonard, affectionately known as Ed, dedicated his life to medicine and his family.

Ed graduated from Topeka West High School and continued his education at the University of Kansas, earning his degree in 1968 and completing medical school in 1972. His commitment to healthcare led him to become a board-certified Endocrinologist and a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology. Throughout his career, Ed was an active member of numerous medical organizations and served as the President of the Potter-Randall County Medical Society.

In 1975, Ed was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army and served his country until 1982, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. His military service was marked by the leadership and compassion that he carried into his civilian life.

Ed's personal life was rich with interests and activities. He was a devout member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, TX. He was fascinated by Native American culture, bird watching, history, and genealogy. Ed was an avid fisherman and spent countless hours casting lures, bait, & flies, apparently for the purpose of discovering, in his words, that "fish are not indigenous to this body of water." Known for his humor and intelligence, Ed was also an avid collector of user manuals-all read cover to cover-and creator of intricate passwords. Truly, this was a man dedicated to preventing the forces of evil, and indeed, even the National Security Agency, from hacking into his GoodReads account.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jackie Jenkins Dodson; his daughters, Katie Gilman and her husband Tony, Marnie Dodson and her partner Sompop Noiwan, and Emily Dodson; his son, David Dodson (his favorite child); his sister, Charlotte Knoche; and his cherished grandchildren, Jordan Gilman, Hayden Bennet and her husband Jake, Samuel Dodson, Maxwell Dodson, Tabitha Dodson, Elijah Dodson, and Kai Dodson. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Martha Downing Dodson and Leonard Edwin Dodson Sr.

A private memorial service will be held by the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Ed's memory are encouraged to continue his legacy of care and compassion through personal acts of kindness and charity in their communities.