Billy Ray Leatherwood was born October 6, 1938, in Stilwell, Oklahoma to Arthur Lee and Opal (Rich) Leatherwood.
He passed away November 11, 2008, at the Stilwell Nursing Home at the age of 70 years, one month and five days.
He is survived by five sons, Richard, of Shreveport, Louisiana, Ronny, of Valley Center, Kansas, Randy, of Stilwell, Roger and Anita, of Wichita, Kansas and Robert and Kim, of Fort Worth, Texas; six grandchildren, Zachery, Kaleigh, Chelsea, Taylor, Shelby and Justin; his mother, Opal Leatherwood, of Stilwell; two brothers, Jerry and Virgie Leatherwood, of Ajo, Arizona, Rick and Kathleen Leatherwood, of Proctor; two sisters, Barbara and Pierce Gandy, of Oklahoma City, Sharon Pettigrew, of Stilwell and a very special friend since high school, Freddy Morton, of Stilwell.
Bill spent his life as an aircraft worker. He worked for Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas for many years and later transferred to the parent company, General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. The F-16 Fighting Falcon was his pride and joy. He used to tell the boys that if one flew over and the pilot fell out that he didn’t do his job right.
Bill coached little league baseball for years in Valley Center, Kansas as the boys grew up. When they outgrew him, he played slow pitch softball.
Bill was a very avid bowler with many trophies and bowling balls to prove it. Just ask his aunts about the bowling balls in their flowerbeds.
Services were held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 15, 2008, at Hart Memorial Chapel with Bro. Don Waldrop officiating.
Interment followed at Ewing Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.
