Leon Alexander Coker of Woodland died on May 18, 2002, at Palm Gardens in Woodland. He was 79.

He was born on Jan. 2, 1923, in Soper, Oklahoma to the late Robert H. and Ruth Elza Arbaugh Coker. He grew up in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma. He was a resident of Yolo County for the past 35 years.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater of Operation for nine months with the 99th Field Artillery Battalion. He was employed for 50 years at Contadina Foods.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Odell Coker, in 1992.

He is survived by his son, Tom Coker and his wife Susan of Woodland, and his grandchildren, Emily and Paul Coker, both of Woodland. He is also survived by his brother, James Coker and his wife Maryann of Oklahoma; sister, Mable Locklin and her husband Bill of Jamestown; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. A funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at McNary's Chapel, with Pastor Shelby Rogers officiating. Interment will follow the service at Woodland Cemetery.

{Obituary from the "The Davis Enterprise," Wednesday, May 22, 2002, {Yolo County}. Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street, Davis, CA 95616, < http://www.davisenterprise.com/>. Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.}