David Lee Leslie

David Lee Leslie, thoughtful of others in death as in life, spent the last month of his life visiting his daughter Martha in Bastrop, Texas. Although very tired at the end, he refused to pass on until hours after his son Kirk had arrived from Odessa.

As David, Kirk and Martha trekked from Odessa to Bastrop in late November, Martha announced to the world that “this was her 92 year old father she had sprung from the nursing home to take him home with her.” Young and old who heard her declaration smiled and cheered.

David was born December 5, 1921, in Wichita, Kansas. He fell asleep for the last time on December 21, 2014, at age 93.

David attended Wichita State University (1940 – 42). After serving in WWII, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas (1946 - 48). He was inducted into Etta Kappa Nu Association for excellent scholarship and other attainments in the Profession of Electrical Engineering.

David was a Naval Aviator and flew a B-24 in WWII. While stationed for one year at Pearl Harbor, he was part of the pivotal campaign against the Japanese in the Pacific. Later he spent a year on the mainland training combat pilots. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant.

He started work with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, as an Area Electrical Engineer. In 1953 he was transferred to Odessa, Texas to assist the supervision of 50 employees and was responsible for electrical engineering problems in the Company facilities in West Texas and New Mexico.

In 1959, David started a new company called Superior Controls. His son eventually joined the business and the two built the business shoulder to shoulder over several decades. David lived the dream of getting his own business, building it with his son, retiring comfortably and then watching the son carry on.

David's success was such that he paid cash for an upscale new house in Odessa and owned a lake house at Lake Nasworthy. Yet he was so frugal he taught his children to always turn the lights off when they left a room and to scrape butter wrappers.

David started skiing (water and snow) at age 46 and skied until he was 85. When he stopped skiing he started one hour walks in his neighborhoods composed of various “modules” that he could rearrange based on companion, time of year, wind direction, etc. He was an avid card player (initially bridge and then Sheepshead).

David was a member of the First Christian Church in Odessa. As his needs increased, the congregation reached out in very warm and personal ways to nurture David, folding him into their hearts. They even hosted a wonderful 90th birthday party for him.

Kirk (also graduated as an electrical engineer) worked with his Father for thirty years in the company and called him “the smartest man I ever knew.”

David was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Alice Jane Leslie, his first wife Red Leslie, his second wife Leora Leslie and his sister Betty Rhodes.

He is survived by his daughter Martha Lee Buckwalter (spouse Gary), of Bastrop, and his son Kirk Kendall Leslie (spouse Lynda), of Odessa, and four grandchildren.

A visitation with family & friends will be 6:00 to 8:00 pm Friday, December 26, 2014 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home with Rev. Clydel Chapman officiating.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.