Abel A. Leonard, Jr.

Abel Anthony Leonard, Jr., a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the age of 92. He was born in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on November 10, 1922. His family moved to Baton Rouge while Abel was a young boy, and he spent the rest of his years living in Baton Rouge. He graduated from University High School and attended Louisiana State University. When World War II began, he enlisted in the military and was sent to New Orleans to attend Higgins Boat School. As a combat troops landing barge engineer in the United States Coast Guard, Mr. Leonard participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, Southern France, and Okinawa. After V-J day, his ship picked up American and English prisoners-of-war from Japan and returned them to their homelands. He was the retired president and former owner of Conveying & Screening Machinery, Inc., in Baywood, LA. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus #5530 and a 70-year member of American Legion Nicholson Post #38. Mr. Leonard leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Frank Fontenot, a son, Thomas A. Leonard; two stepsons, Louis A. Pino and Joe A. Pino; 8 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Beverly Leonard. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Louise Leonard; parents, Abel A. Leonard, Sr. and Bertha D. Leonard; a granddaughter, Kristy Renee Fontenot; a grandson, Jacob Anthony Leonard; daughter-in-law Tina N. Leonard; brother Royce J. Leonard; and Stepchildren Donna M. Noto and Joseph W. Pino. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. Visitation will continue at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 10 a.m. until funeral service at 12 p.m. Interment will follow on the grounds of Greenoaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Gregory L. Allen, Stuart L. Goudeau, Zachary R. Minton, Hunter C. Minton, Tyler D. Pino, Charles Noto, Jr., and Honorary Pallbearer Mark W. Lanier. He will be sorely missed by those he leaves behind. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to American Legion Nicholson Post #38 or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.