Austin Polk Leedom

Austin P. (Ace) Leedom, passed away peacefully at home on the 20th of January, 2025. Austin was born in Idaho, Pike Co, Ohio on December 27th, 1932. He was the 5th of 7 children born to Gordon (Lloyd) Leedom and Jessie A. Shoemaker. All have preceded him in death.

Austin was a Korean War Veteran in the United States Air Force and a lifetime member of the DAV. After returning from the war, he moved to Ross County, Ohio. He married Wanda K. Leffler and they had 6 children. Charles Leedom, Deborah Epperson, Sara Timmerman, Wallace Leedom, Austin Leedom II, and Chilton Leedom.

Austin and his family became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his 30s and served in various capacities in the church and as an older gentleman was known to the children as the candy man. 

In his early years, he served on the Ross County Sheriff’s Department, the Chillicothe Police Department, the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, and in his later years, spent countless hours researching and publishing articles for The Shawnee Sentinel. He started publishing The Sentinel while attending Shawnee State University from which he graduated with a Bachelors degree in History. 

Austin loved poetry and reading. He read scriptures, Louis Lamour and the classics. He was a great writer and an eloquent speaker. He had a great sense of humor and a wit that was entertaining to his children which he passed on to them and was also inherited by many of his 23 grandchildren. He also leaves behind 31 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. 

The family would like to express a special thank you to Heartland Hospice for their gentle care of Austin and also to the family in his final hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice.

A service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25th, at the BRANT FUNERAL HOME IN SCIOTOVILLE with Jeff Brown officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28th, at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East in Grayson, KY with military honors by the U.S. Air Force Funeral Detail and the Kenova Post 93 of the American Legion.

The family will receive guests at Brant’s from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. 

Memorial contributions may be made Heartland Hospice.

The American flags, along with the U.S. Air Force flag, will fly on the avenue in honor of our proud veteran, Austin Leedom.