Lt. Col. Gaines S. Leavelle

Lt. Col. Gaines Smith Leavelle, USAF (Ret), age 91, died on Saturday, June 7, 2014. He was born in Jena (Greene County), Alabama to Ivola Lavender Leavelle and Lee Gaines Leavelle who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Doris Henderson Leavelle, his daughter Jan Leavelle Dodge, two sisters Norma Leavelle Hoots and Carol Virginia Leavelle.

Lt Col Leavelle entered the U.S. Army Air Corps shortly after the beginning of World War II and retired in l967 from the U. S. Air Force. He served as a pilot during World War II, the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam War.

Gaines loved to travel and belonged to an RV Travel Group, the Armadillo Sams for many years. He was an active member of Memorial United Methodist Church for more than 50 years.

He is survived by his son James Clifton Leavelle of Elgin, his sister Dora Edna “Dodie” Wade of Northport, Alabama. Also surviving him are: Nieces Deborah Burns, husband Curtis and their children Miles and Jessica and Donna Falgout, husband Jim, and their children Jason and Valerie. He is also survived by a nephew Geary Hoots. Gaines is also survived by hisdear friend and companion, Alberta Shelton of Austin.

Visitation will be held at Cook Walden Funeral Home on North Lamar on Wednesday, June 11 from 6-8 P.M. A memorial service will be held at Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin on Thursday, June 12 at 10 A.M. with Pastor Cynthia Kepler-Karrer presiding. Burial at Ft Sam Houston will be at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 12, with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his church or the Boy Scouts of America in which he was a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, Austin, Texas.