Person:Leonard Gilleland (1)

Obituary

Leonard E. "Gilley" Gilleland, 94, died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005.

He was born on Sept. 4, 1911, in Eldred to Dolphin and Bertha (Farrow) Gilleland.

He married the former Edith M. Swift in Alton on Oct. 20, 1934. She survives.

The U.S. Navy veteran served during World War II. He retired from the U.S. Post Office in Alton as a mail carrier in 1967. He also worked as a security guard for the Wedge Bank and worked at Martin Service Station on Broadway, both in Alton. He was a member of the Community Christian Church in Alton and the Franklin Masonic Lodge 25 AF and AM. An avid golfer, he played well into his eighties.

In addition to his wife, survivors include one daughter, Nancy Mareing and her husband, Bob, of Lake St. Louis, Mo.; one daughter-in-law, Saundra Gilleland of Keithville, La.; three grandchildren, Meg Gilleland of Foley, Ala., Matt Gilleland of Birmingham, Ala., and their mother, Diane Gilliland of Birmingham, Ala., and Mike Mareing of Lake St. Louis, Mo.; three great-grandchildren, Devin Gilleland, Alex Gilleland and Annie Gilleland, all of Birmingham, Ala.; five nephews, Raymond Swift of West Frankfurt, Ill., Richard Swift of Grafton, Donald Gilleland of Melbourne, Fla., Richard Gilleland of Moriarty, N.M., and Mark Swift of Macedonia, Ill.; and one niece, Patty Bondoc of San Jose, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Gary W. Gilleland; one brother, Orville Gilleland; and one sister, Edna Pinkowski.

Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until time of services at 2:30 p.m. today at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. The Rev. Tom Cater will officiate.

Burial will be at Upper Alton Cemetery.

The Community Christian Church has been named as a memorial.

The Telegraph, September 9, 2005