Memorial services for Robert “Bob” Dean Leonard, 87 year-old Clinton resident, will be held Wednesday, June 24 at 2 p.m. at Cornerstone Church of God, 1900 Lexington, Clinton, with Brother Greg Hill officiating.
Leonard passed away on June 19, 2020 at Alliance Health Clinton Hospital.
He was married to Ella Mae Main Leonard for 52 years before her death. He then was married to Anita “Jean” Wood Leonard for 15 years.
He was born March 4, 1933 to Cedric Wilford Leonard and Carrie Vanita Henricks Leonard. He attended Stand Water Grade School, Stonewall Jackson Jr. High and Capitol Hill High School, graduating in 1950. He worked at a paint warehouse store for a year while dating Ella. They were married August 31, 1951 and both had jobs at the State Capital for about a year.
Bob enlisted in the Navy Reserve and was called to active duty in 1952. He did boot camp at Chicago, tech schools at Memphis Tennessee, and Norman Oklahoma, served as a Link Trainer Instructor after a 30-day Teacher Training Course. He was honorably discharged from active duty in February of 1954.
He moved back to Oklahoma, got a job as a draftsman in a consulting engineer office in Tulsa and started college at Tulsa University on the GI Bill. He also graduated from OU and Pittsburg University.
He moved to Clinton in 1973 while working for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He opened a joint business called Leonard & Spitz and later bought Spitz out and called it Leonard Engineering. He later renamed his business Leonard and Goucher Engineering. Upon retirement it became Goucher and Associates.
He served on the Mission Board for about 12 years. He was a member of First Church of God, now Cornerstone in Clinton, and served as Sunday school teacher, sang in the choir, and served on boards. He enjoyed camping and “laking,” snow skiing and vacations with his family members.
He had a few sayings that he lived by. One was “Enthusiasm’s contagious.” Another was “It can be done.”
Following the death of Ella, he was married to Jean Wood Leonard on January 9, 2005. They enjoyed retirement to the fullest participating in church and family activities.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Cedric Wilford Leonard and Carrie Vanita Hendricks Leonard, wife Ella Mae Main Leonard, his stepfather K.P. Roberts, and brother David Leonard.
Survivors include his wife Anita “Jean” Wood Leonard of Clinton, son Dash Leonard and wife Teja of Ponca City, daughter Diana Jean Sellers and Jim of Langley, and daughter Tina Renee’ Goucher of Clinton; grandchildren Amy Harper, Sarah Hardridge, Donnie Leonard, Rochelle Leonard, Robin Tucker, Mitchell Goucher, Alena Jennings, Garrett Goucher, Roxanne Lewis and Ezekiel Leonard; 14 great-grandchildren, a great-great grandson; a sister, Runi Summers, and a brother, Dick Leonard; step brothers and sisters, Cleo Roberts, Faye Ethridge, Edward Roberts and Geneva Leonard; step children, Keith Wood, Ron and Diane Wood, Anita and Leonard Smith, Kathie and Lynda. Switzer, Jon and Carmel Wood, Tim and Karen Wood, 12 step grandchildren, 18 step greatgrandchildren, and a step great-greatgrandson.
There will not be a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mission House in Clinton would be appreciated.
The family wants to give special thanks to Shepherd Home Health and AllianceHealth Clinton Hospital.