Richard Leaverton

A viewing will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Timberlane Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road (850-893-4177), on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm EDT. Graveside Services will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fl. on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 12:30 pm EDT, with full military honors provided by the Navy.

Lt. Leaverton was born in Boone, Iowa, on January 15, 1925. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. During his 25-year career, he served our nation at Midway Island during WWII and the Gulf of Tonkin aboard the USS Midway (CV41) during the Vietnam War. During his Naval career, he served as an Air Operations Officer, Air Crew Member and Mustang Officer. Lt. Leaverton retired from the U.S. Navy in 1967 and moved to Tallahassee from Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Florida State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in science and went on to become Data Center Administrator for the Florida Department of Highway Safety. He was a member of the SMART Travel Club and traveled throughout the United States.

Richard Leaverton will be deeply missed by his wife Mary Ann of 67 years. He is also survived by his sons, Jeffrey of Madisonville, Louisiana, Joel and daughter-in-law, Mandy, of Palm Dale, California; daughters, Joyce Richardson and son-in-law Doug of Lake Mary, Florida, and Janet Kuhlmann and son-in-law John of Tallahassee; sister Sue Schenden of Santa Ana, California; grandchildren Anthony, Rich, Nick Whit, J.J. and Richard; and great-grand children, James, Brittany, Lexi, Kimber, Jake and Grady.

"Permission granted to go ashore one final time Lieutenant".

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.