William R. Leonard

Lt. Col. William R. Leonard USAF (Ret) passed away peacefully at home on October 16, 2011, at the age of 94, surrounded by family. He was a long-time resident of Colorado Springs. The son of Robert and Alvina Leonard, he was born in Minneapolis, MN, attended the University of Minnesota and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He served in the South Pacific with the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron in World War II, returned home in August 1945, and joined the Air Force in October 1947.

Throughout his military career, he was a rated command pilot. He served as a special assignment flight operations officer in the Japan-Korea -China theatre after WWII; with the VIP squadron in Washington, D.C.; and had various intelligence assignments at March AFB, HQ USAFE Wiesbaden, NORAD , and CINCNELM London.

William retired from the Air Force in 1962 and returned to Colorado Springs. In 1966, he joined the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and served as the Chief of Air Support and as Civil Aviation Advisor to the Royal Laos Government in Vientiane, Laos until 1975. He retired from the State Department in 1977.

William was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Mary Jane, in 2007. He will be deeply missed by children Laurie (Charles) Epperson, Linda (Frederic) Stephens, Victoria (Gregory) Langer, and William R. (Michele) Leonard, Jr.; grandchildren Frederic (Dana), Alexander, and Nicholas Stephens, John and Rebecca Langer, and William, III and Caroline Leonard; great granddaughters Evelyn and Lila Stephens; and by his extended family who knew him as “Uncle Bill”. He also leaves behind some very dear friends and neighbors.

He never lost his love for Minnesota and returned every summer “to the lake” to play golf, drive the boat, fish and play cribbage with his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in William’s name to Pikes Peak Hospice. Other organizations dear to his heart are the Alzheimer’s Association, the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance or the ALS Association.

Visitation is Thursday, October 20, 2011, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Swan Law Funeral Home, 501 North Cascade Avenue. Funeral services and burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Memories may be shared on the website www.swan-law.com.

He will be remembered most for his quick wit and gentle soul.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.