Eugene Frank Leonard

February 24, 1930 ~ September 7, 2021

On Tuesday September 7, 2021, Eugene Frank Leonard, loving husband and father of six children passed away at the age of 91.  Eugene (Gene) was born on February 24, 1930 in Linton, North Dakota as the first of five boys born to Stephina Jochim Leonard and Frank Joseph Leonard.

After serving as a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne during the Korean War, he went to work as a supervisor in Signal Communications for the Milwaukee Railroad in Montana.  On April 15th, 1956 in Miles City, Montana  he married Carolyn Runae Hurd.  They moved to Elgin, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where all six of the children were born.  He continued his career in the office as a draftsman with the Milwaukee Railroad.  Striving to do well in Signal Communications, he eventually became a Government transportation consultant in Washington D.C..  He traveled nationwide, working on several mass transit corridor projects on the East and West coast.  Gene retired from the Railroad industry in 1996 and he and his wife moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia and for a brief period of time, with his son, he was self-employed maintaining railroad crossing signals.

In 1998 Gene and his wife moved to Ormond Beach, Florida to be with their Daughter and her family.

Gene was gifted with many talents and passions.  His main passions were Evangelism, pastor of several churches, writing, repairing and building his community as a volunteer fireman and serving on the board at a mental hospital.  He loved to dance, bowl, listening to music and playing the harmonica.  He enjoyed Polkas, waltzes, country and western in addition to hymns.  In latter years he was a self taught mechanic.  He loved birds and constructed small bird houses.  Part of his daily ritual was reading and studying the Bible.  He wrote about the applications of Biblical precepts in today's world.  Gene was an active member of the Port Orange Covenant United Methodist Church.  He was a member of the Greater Daytona 82nd Airborne division.

He will be remembered for his wit, his infectious smile, his kindness and compassionate spirit.  He is survived by his wife, five children and nine grandchildren.

Services entrusted to Lohman Funeral Home Port Orange.