OBITUARY: George W. Leech

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George-W.-Leech

George W. Leech, age 95, of Maury County and formerly of Dickson County, Tennessee, passed away on March 26, 2023.

George was born in Charlotte, TN on June 22, 1927 to the late Sam Pat Leech and Dolly Ashworth Leech.

He has outlived all but one of his seven siblings. He married Carolyn “Carrie” Caswell on July 4, 1951 in Pawnee City, Nebraska. They celebrated their 71st anniversary prior to his passing.

George joined the United States Navy in 1945 during World War II, and was aboard ship in the South Pacific in August of that year when the Atomic Bombs were dropped on Japan.

He was first loader on an anti-aircraft gun that shot down Japanese kamikaze airplanes. Kamikaze means Japanese pilots who in World War II made deliberate suicidal crashes into enemy targets, usually ships. Back home, he tried several jobs, but enjoyed climbing poles and doing electrical work. He got a job with the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1951 and worked for them 36 years. He was one of the few trades and labor personnel to cross over into management.

He began as a linesman, “catching steel” in the construction of steel towers, and he retired as a Safety Supervisor who traveled throughout the valley conducting safety meetings and instructing TVA’s 26 line crews in bare hand and hot stick methods. For a number of years after retirement, he did consulting for electrical companies all over the country.

George took flying lessons in the late 1960’s and loved aviation. He earned all of the rates in single engine aviation and also learned to fly multi engine planes. He spent many hours teaching others to fly and had the reputation of being an excellent instructor. He owned several planes over the years. He lost his FAA medical when he had quadruple bypass surgery in 1994.

George accepted Christ as his personal savior and became a Christian at Killen Baptist Church in Killen, Alabama in 1957. His membership locally is at Southside Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, TN. He has also been a member of the Masonic Lodge for 60 years, and served as Master of the Lodge at Killen, Alabama in 1962.

George was a great family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His generosity toward his family members was unparalleled. He will be sadly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years; Carolyn “Carrie” Ann Leech, son; Bruce Leech (Angela) of Elgin Crossroads, AL, daughter; Bethany Malugin (Tim) of Mobile, AL, grandchildren; Donna Boatright (Glenn) of Holly Pond, AL, Jesse Rockwell of New Jersey, Micaiah Rockwell (Marjorie) of Mobile, AL, Stacy Leech of Elgin Crossroads, step-grandchild; Brittany Carlton (Paul) of Cleveland, OH, great-grandchildren; Sawyer Jordan, Silas Jordan, Caiden Rockwell, Ethen Rockwell, Tristan Rockwell, Julian Rockwell, Josie Gray, Miles Carlton, step-great-grandchildren; Tyler Boatright, Levi Boatright, brother; Lynwood Leech (Oneida) of Dickson, TN, and special friends Joe Keisling (Jill) and their children; Anna and Grace.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM from the chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home. Family and Friends will officiate the service. Visitation with the family will take place on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 pm. Burial will take place following the service in the Leech Family Cemetery in Charlotte, TN. http://taylorsince1909.com

 

For more obituaries visit https://dicksoncountysource.com/obituaries/

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