Obituary

Leach, Austin

Mr. Leach died at 5:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, 1998, in Methodist Hospital Lubbock.

He was born Feb. 3, 1910, in Plainview, the son of Hale County pioneers, the late Ara Price Howell and Marcus de Layfette Leach whose family came to Plainview in 1886. He grew up in Plainview, attended Seth Ward College and Texas Tech University. He served in the military in France during World War II and received several medals including the American Service, European African Middle Eastern Service, Good Conduct and World War II Victory Medal. He worked for the U.S. Post Office in Plainview from 1957 until his retirement in 1977.

He enjoyed teaching Sunday school in his earlier years and was a member of the American Legion. He married Edna Marie Stanphill on Feb. 8, 1956 in Clovis, N.M.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Dr. Joe Don Leach and his wife, Lee, of Bothell, Wash.; a daughter, Jeanie Pennell and her husband, Harvey, of Plainview; a sister, Lois Leach Young of San Angelo; five grandchildren, Marcus Leach, Gwyanne Leach, Arthur "Trey" Baer III, Kristi Stanford and Heath Pennell; six great-grandchildren; and three special friends and caretakers Buddy Gibson, Billy Wallace and Larry Baker.

A sister, Eula Howell Brown, is deceased.