Donald Leonard

Donald Carl Leonard November 26, 1925 – July 16, 2015 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Carl Leonard who entered into rest on July 16, 2015, at the age of 89. Donald was born in Rome, New York on November 26, 1925. He married the love of his life in 1945 and in 1963 they moved to California. He has lived in Los Angeles County ever since. Donald proudly served our country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II as a Marine Aircraft Mechanic in the Central Pacific. After serving in the military, Donald worked for General Electric in upstate New York in the space and aviation division. He went on to work at TRW in Redondo Beach, California for the next 36 years in the Aerospace Division designing our country’s earliest spacecraft and spy satellites until his retirement in 1999. He designed electrical harnesses for the Apollo Lunar Landing Module and his work is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. as well as the Air Force Space Command Museum in Colorado. Donald loved his family very much and spending time with them was very special to him. He also enjoyed gardening, reading (especially Western novels), Clint Eastwood movies, target shooting with his daughter, son-in-law and family and lifting weights at the gym. During his younger years he was a great outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing with family, friends and his son’s. He raised beagles for rabbit hunting. Donald is survived by his Wife and best friend, Joan Leonard. He was a loving Father to his five children, Kurt Leonard (Gloria), Lynn Eastridge, Shelley Leonard, Don Leonard Jr., Kelly Teglia and his son-in- law Marc Teglia. He was a loving Grandfather to Krista Kubicek (Todd), Stacy Hendrickson (Jason), Sherry Greenfield (Bill), Jennifer Graham (Travis), Major Sarah Nichols USAF (Rob), Renee Clayton (Andrew), Daniel Leonard (Elizabeth) and Nicholas Leonard as well as many Great Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews. He was preceded in death by his Father Carl Leonard, Mother Emma Mae Leonard, Sister Jean Shaefer, Brother Robert Leonard, Son in law David Eastridge as well as his Grandsons, Scott Leonard, Keith Leonard and Adam Towler. He will be dearly missed. Family and Friends are invited to his funeral mass in the Chapel at All Soul’s Catholic Mortuary located at 4400 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, California on Saturday July 25, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.