Richard Arthur Leonard

Richard Arthur Leonard
September 9, 1920 - September 22,2015
Resident of San Ramon
Richard Arthur Leonard, age 95, passed away surrounded by family at his apartment at Villa San Ramon, where he had been a resident for the past year. While at Villa, Richard was blessed with treasured friendships and enjoyable activities.
He was born in Dayton, OH to Herbert and Gertrude Leonard. His beloved wife of 68 years, Mary, passed away on March 13, 2009. He moved from Elida, OH to California in 2012 to be near family.
Mr. Leonard is survived by his son, Thomas R. (Linda) Leonard and his daughter, Carole Wenger both of Danville, CA. He leaves his granddaughters, Kristin (Paul) Skrabo of Portola Valley, CA, Stefanie (Dean) Clark of San Ramon, CA and Emily (Matt) Reynolds of West Chester, OH and one grandson, Andrew (Katherine) Wenger of Danville, CA. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Sydney Clark (age 19), Lucas & Courtney Clark (age 18), Brooke Skrabo (age 16), Paige & Lindsay Skrabo (age 13), Isabelle Wenger (age 3) ,Cameron Reynolds (age 2) and Abigail Wenger (5 months old). He leaves a brother, William (Wanda) Leonard and a sister, Shirley (Robert) Douglas both of Centerville, OH.
Mr. Leonard was a veteran of World War II, U.S. Army Air Force. He was a tail gunner on a B17. His plane was hit by German artillery forcing him to parachute into enemy territory where he was captured by Nazi soldiers. He remained a prisoner of war for seven months, finally being released on October 20, 1945.
He was a retired bank executive, a former Boy Scout leader and a former President of the Kettering, OH Rotary Club. For most of his life, he was an avid tennis player and enjoyed golf until his early 90's. He served as an active member of The Northwest Chapter of Ex-Prisoners of War in Lima, OH.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, CA on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 2:30pm. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances to Vitas Hospice Care, 355 Lennon Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94598.


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