Leonard was born June 14, 1919, the son of the Rev. J. Floyd Menius and Myrtle Goodman Menius. He passed away Friday, August 31, 2018 at Hospice in the Pines Inpatient at CHI St. Luke’s, Lufkin, TX.
He attended schools in North Carolina, graduating from Davidson College in 1940, and later receiving a Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina. He served in World War II as a U. S. Air Force pilot and Squadron Operations Officer in the China, Burma, India theater. He also served during the Korean War at the Human Resources Research Center in San Angelo, Texas, doing research in pilot training methods. He was discharged from the Air Force Reserve as a Lt. Colonel, having received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two clusters, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three clusters.
After his military service, Leonard was employed as a Personnel Analyst with Union Bag & Paper Corporation in Savannah, Georgia, and later as Director of Industrial Relations for Eastex Corporation. When Eastex was merged with Temple Industries and Inland Corporation, he served as Director of Industrial Relations for the Forest Products Division of Temple-Inland Inc., completing a total of 31 years of service with the company. Business affiliations included the American Society of Personnel Administrators where he was classified Executive in Personnel, Chairman of Community Relations Service, Southwest Paper Industries, and Chairman of Southern Forest Products Salary Roundtable. He was a licensed Psychologist in Texas and in Georgia.
Leonard supported the Boy Scouts and was awarded the Silver Beaver award. He also enjoyed playing golf, and was a member of the East Texas Seniors Golf Group for many years.
Throughout his life, Leonard was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, serving as Elder, Sunday School teacher, chairman of many committees and also serving as chairman of Presbyterian camp Cho-Yeh Camp and Conference Center.
Leonard is survived by his sons, Robert and wife, Linda of Katy and Joe and wife, Amy of Plano.
In addition to his parents, Leonard was preceded in death by his wife, Helen in 2015; and sister, Opal Menius
Memorials may be made to Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center Scholarship Fund, 2200 South Washington Ave., Livingston, TX 77351; or to Medical Benevolence Foundation, P. O. Box 96877, Washington, D.C. 20090.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.
Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com
Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.
