Paul T. Leonard died peacefully on May 12th 2016 at his home in Tucson, Arizona after a long battle with hydrocephalus and vascular dementia. Pat Leonard, his wife of 61 years and best friend was with him.
Paul,
The time has come for us to part
Your departure has left emptiness in many hearts
We must release you-this we know
God has called you and you must go
You had a passion for family love and pride
And it was strong 'till the day you died
It breaks our heart to lose you
But you do not go alone
Part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
With Love, Pat
Paul is survived by his children: Denise (Deni) Dickson (husband, Dennis) of Indianapolis, IN, Lori Wheeler (husband, Jon) of Walla Walla, WA, Paul T. Leonard, Jr. (wife, Denise) of Hayden Lake, ID, Mary Leonard of Los Angeles, CA and foster-son, Hank L. Phan of Murrieta, CA. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jonathan Wheeler, Nicole (Kellen) Clemens, Cassie (Vincent) Glondo, Jamie Wheeler, Brittany (Michael) Ratelle, Paul Leonard III (Mary Alice), Madison Leonard and Hannah Leonard and twelve great grandchildren: Samantha and Beckham Wheeler, Kate, Grant and Scarlet Clemens, Gracie, Dominic and Gianna Glondo, Eleanor, Charlotte and Emmett Ratelle and Liv Leonard.
Paul is also survived by his brother, Philip Leonard, his sister Mary Bassett, and 69 nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to either;
Santa Catalina Catholic Church
14380 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85737
Attention: Susan Budrow
OR
Hospice Family Care
6300 El Dorado Plaza, Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85755
Attention: Robin Perez.
Please make donations in Memory of Paul T. Leonard.
Dad was born 85 years ago today. What a full life he lived! If he was with us today, we would have baked a spice cake with German chocolate icing. We would have made him a crown out of tin foil which he would have worn all day. He would have wanted us to sing "Happy Birthday" to him throughout the day--(what happened to his humility?)
We do think about him every day and know he his looking down on us.
We look forward to being with you, Dad.
With all our love, XXXOOO, Big D and Deni
How lucky I am.....
--To be Mom and Dad's first born
--To be the child that strongly favored Dad in looks and temperament
--To have had a tall, handsome gentleman for a hero, one named, Dad
--To have a Dad who taught me many important lessons, maybe first and foremost, the fact that I could do anything I wanted in life
--To have Dad as a role model, especially in my career in business
--To have shared so many womderful times with Mom and Dad, our best friends and neighbors in Saddlebrooke, for over two decades
--To be in Tucson as Dad's health declined; although this period was extremely difficult, it was a very special time to be by his side, with Mom.
--To have had the chance to say a long "Good-bye" to Dad; this was the hardest thing that I have done in my life, but I know that he is in a much better place and one day we will be together again.
Thank you, Daddy-O; I love you, Deni
