George F. Leonhard

George Fred Leonhard was born February 20, 1923 on a farm in Copperas Cove that would later become part of the West Fort Hood reservation to Emma M and Hans J. Leonhard. He passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 10, 2010.

He joined the Army Air Corps at the age of 18, serving as an aviator for three and a half years. He returned to Copperas Cove and worked for Barnes Lumber until 1949 when Ollie Little opened Home Lumber Company. After managing Home Lumber for 21 years he became the owner in 1970 and remained there until his retirement in 1989.

George served the City of Copperas Cove for twenty years; sixteen years as the Mayor and four as a City Councilman. He served on various Boards to include: the Coryell County Memorial Hospital, the Copperas Cove Housing Authority, the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce, the Copperas Cove EDC, the Industrial Foundation and on the Advisory Board of The National Banks of Central Texas. He served as treasurer for the Salvation Army and Grace United Methodist Church for over twenty five years. He was a life member of the Lion’s Club and AUSA. He was a Master Mason and a member of Mt. Hiram Lodge 595 A.F. & A.M. in Copperas Cove for over fifty years.

George was the announcer for Copperas Cove High School football games for twenty six years. He was the recipient of the Copperas Cove Exchange Clubs Golden Deeds Award and was twice named Man of the Year by the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce once in 1959 and again in 1961.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda of Kempner; two daughters Brenda Warley of Woodway and Beverly Smith and her husband Danny of Kempner; a stepson, Jeff Johanson and his wife Terrie of Hillsboro; granddaughters, Leslie Morris and her husband Brandon of Round Rock and Erin Garrett and her husband Luke of Georgetown; step grandchildren, Brooke and Clayton Smith of San Angelo and Lillie Johanson of Hillsboro; four great grandsons, Evan and Wyatt Morris, Jackson Garrett and Will Smith; three brothers, James Leonhard of Goldthwaite, Edgar Leonhard of Brownwood and Walter Leonhard of New Hampshire.

The Leonhard family will receive guests for a time of visitation from 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 12, 2010 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove. Funeral services will 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove with Pastor Stephen Schmidt officiating. Interment services will follow in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

The Leonhard family would like to extend a special thanks to Lighthouse Hospice and the staff of Hill Country Rehab and Nursing.

In place of usual remembrances the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 101 West Avenue F. Copperas Cove, Texas 76522 or to Heart of Forgiveness Ministries, 228 PR 2225, Lampasas, Texas 76550.

Words of comfort may be shared with the Leonhard family at www.crawfordbowerscopperascove.com.

Services have been entrusted to the care of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove.