Barbara Blackmun Leonhardt

Barbara Leonhardt, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and wonderful person and friend, went to be with the Lord on April 10, 2014 after a short and sudden battle with lung cancer. She was born on March 4, 1943 in Hammond, Indiana to parents Joseph G. and Mary Anne Blackmun. She grew up with two sisters, Christine and Cynthia. She met her husband, Jack, at Indiana University and they were married on August 15, 1964 and had almost reached fifty years of wonderful marriage. Barbara followed Jack into a twenty-two year career in the United States Air Force with homes in Eufaula, AL, Battle Creek, MI, Colorado Springs, CO, San Antonio, TX, Air Force Academy, CO, Washington, D.C. and finally settling in Windcrest, TX in 1982. As they made the many moves, she taught elementary school, worked for the phone company, was a school administrative assistant and frequently taught tole painting and crafts in their home. She was a great companion as Jack continued a twelve-year career at the United Services Automobile Association (USAA). This was followed with her role as the First Lady of Windcrest, TX as Jack served eight years as mayor. After graduating from Indiana University in 1966 with an education/home economics degree, her life was characterized by gourmet cooking, cookbooks, painting and crafts. Friends considered her the Martha Stewart of Windcrest. Friends enjoyed her expert assistance with gourmet club luncheons and dinners. As a complement to gourmet dinners, she loved the Victorian table settings with mother of pearl handled flatware utensils. Thus began another adventure with Jack as they traveled the country going to antique shows and shops searching for those unique flatware pieces. Their collection numbers in the thousands of pieces and there was the beginning of a book, which Jack hopes to complete in her memory. Having lived in Windcrest for thirty-one years, she helped design and build numerous Christmas decorations for the "City of Lights." In July 2013 they moved to a new home at the Army Residence Community (ARC), where they were beginning a new chapter in their lives with former and new acquaintances. God blessed Barbara and Jack with two wonderful daughters. Jack said they both received their mother's talents as Jacqueline, the oldest, is a super smart science teacher and Joanne is a talented graphics illustrator and painter. Likewise she and Jack were blessed with two great son-in-laws; Jacqueline is married to Lt Colonel Stephen Innanen, US Army, and Joanne is married to Lt Colonel Andrew Brickson, US Army. In turn, Jacqueline blessed her with two granddaughters, Aimee and Allie, and Joanne blessed her with two grandsons, Benjamin and Joseph. She was preceded to heaven by her parents and leaves behind her husband, two daughters and sons-in-laws, four grandchildren, two sisters (Lee and Christine Wiggam, Indianapolis, IN and John and Cynthia Bognar, Munster, IN); and also brother-in-law Larry and Joyce Leonhardt, Bloomington, IN along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and her dearest Windcrest friend, Inez Dunn. A memorial service will be held at the John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 8102 Midcrown Drive, Windcrest, TX at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2014 with Dr. Malcolm McQueen officiating. A reception will follow the memorial service at the church, after which her burial will take place at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to John Calvin Presbyterian Church for the Esther Young Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home, Universal City, Texas.