Life-long McComb resident Leigh Leach Klotz, Sr., age 94, passed away on March 9, 2015, in Kosciusko, Miss., where he had resided at the Mississippi State Veterans Home for the past year.
A combat veteran, he served as ship photographer for the USS Hollandia, an aircraft carrier which received three battle stars during World War ll. Among other actions, the Hollandia brought back to the United States the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the ship which had ferried the atomic bombs dropped on Japan but which was torpedoed on its way back.
Before the war, he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a brakeman. Other early employment included serving as a photographer-engraver at the McComb Enterprise Journal newspaper, which published many photos with his credit line.
Owner of Klotz Studio on North Broadway for many years, he became an award-winning portrait and commercial photographer. He was equally known for a string of unusual hobbies and interests, which ranged from electronics, computers and ham radio to archeology and exotic animals.
Friends and neighbors were continually surprised to see a parade of creatures at the Klotz home in Edgewood: ocelot, chimpanzee, monkey, fox, squirrel to name a few, and even a young lion at one point! After his retirement from professional photography, he continued his interest in electronics, working at McComb Electric Supply and at Radio Shack. In addition, he enjoyed volunteering to help other seniors in McComb with their computers. To the amazement of friends and family, he was still able to send text messages at age 93.
Born November 22, 1920, he was the son of long-term area physician Dr. S. Paul Klotz and Mrs. Edith Leach Klotz, and the youngest of five brothers: Alvin (Buster), Chandler, Lewis, and Paul, all deceased.
In 1941, he married Alyne Crain Klotz of McComb, who passed away in 1985. They had three children: Carmen Roberson of Columbia, S.C.; Leah Kolt of Camarillo, Cal.; , and Leigh Klotz, Jr. of Palo Alto, Cal. He had seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Other survivors include his niece Mrs. Richard (Stephanie) Moore and her son Richard Moore of McComb and his wife Dolly; nephew Chandler L. Klotz of Tyler, Tex.; nephew Paul William Klotz of Mobile, Ala.; and niece Dahdee Bullen of Wetumpka, Ala.
A private burial was held at Hollywood Cemetery, and a family memorial service will be held in the near future.
Memorials may be sent to the National World War ll Museum in New Orleans, La.; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn; the World Wildlife Fund; or the McComb Public Library.
A combat veteran, he served as ship photographer for the USS Hollandia, an aircraft carrier which received three battle stars during World War ll. Among other actions, the Hollandia brought back to the United States the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the ship which had ferried the atomic bombs dropped on Japan but which was torpedoed on its way back.
Before the war, he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a brakeman. Other early employment included serving as a photographer-engraver at the McComb Enterprise Journal newspaper, which published many photos with his credit line.
Owner of Klotz Studio on North Broadway for many years, he became an award-winning portrait and commercial photographer. He was equally known for a string of unusual hobbies and interests, which ranged from electronics, computers and ham radio to archeology and exotic animals.
Friends and neighbors were continually surprised to see a parade of creatures at the Klotz home in Edgewood: ocelot, chimpanzee, monkey, fox, squirrel to name a few, and even a young lion at one point! After his retirement from professional photography, he continued his interest in electronics, working at McComb Electric Supply and at Radio Shack. In addition, he enjoyed volunteering to help other seniors in McComb with their computers. To the amazement of friends and family, he was still able to send text messages at age 93.
Born November 22, 1920, he was the son of long-term area physician Dr. S. Paul Klotz and Mrs. Edith Leach Klotz, and the youngest of five brothers: Alvin (Buster), Chandler, Lewis, and Paul, all deceased.
In 1941, he married Alyne Crain Klotz of McComb, who passed away in 1985. They had three children: Carmen Roberson of Columbia, S.C.; Leah Kolt of Camarillo, Cal.; , and Leigh Klotz, Jr. of Palo Alto, Cal. He had seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Other survivors include his niece Mrs. Richard (Stephanie) Moore and her son Richard Moore of McComb and his wife Dolly; nephew Chandler L. Klotz of Tyler, Tex.; nephew Paul William Klotz of Mobile, Ala.; and niece Dahdee Bullen of Wetumpka, Ala.
A private burial was held at Hollywood Cemetery, and a family memorial service will be held in the near future.
Memorials may be sent to the National World War ll Museum in New Orleans, La.; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn; the World Wildlife Fund; or the McComb Public Library.
Life-long McComb resident Leigh Leach Klotz, Sr., age 94, passed away on March 9, 2015, in Kosciusko, Miss., where he had resided at the Mississippi State Veterans Home for the past year.
A combat veteran, he served as ship photographer for the USS Hollandia, an aircraft carrier which received three battle stars during World War ll. Among other actions, the Hollandia brought back to the United States the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the ship which had ferried the atomic bombs dropped on Japan but which was torpedoed on its way back.
Before the war, he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a brakeman. Other early employment included serving as a photographer-engraver at the McComb Enterprise Journal newspaper, which published many photos with his credit line.
Owner of Klotz Studio on North Broadway for many years, he became an award-winning portrait and commercial photographer. He was equally known for a string of unusual hobbies and interests, which ranged from electronics, computers and ham radio to archeology and exotic animals.
Friends and neighbors were continually surprised to see a parade of creatures at the Klotz home in Edgewood: ocelot, chimpanzee, monkey, fox, squirrel to name a few, and even a young lion at one point! After his retirement from professional photography, he continued his interest in electronics, working at McComb Electric Supply and at Radio Shack. In addition, he enjoyed volunteering to help other seniors in McComb with their computers. To the amazement of friends and family, he was still able to send text messages at age 93.
Born November 22, 1920, he was the son of long-term area physician Dr. S. Paul Klotz and Mrs. Edith Leach Klotz, and the youngest of five brothers: Alvin (Buster), Chandler, Lewis, and Paul, all deceased.
In 1941, he married Alyne Crain Klotz of McComb, who passed away in 1985. They had three children: Carmen Roberson of Columbia, S.C.; Leah Kolt of Camarillo, Cal.; , and Leigh Klotz, Jr. of Palo Alto, Cal. He had seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Other survivors include his niece Mrs. Richard (Stephanie) Moore and her son Richard Moore of McComb and his wife Dolly; nephew Chandler L. Klotz of Tyler, Tex.; nephew Paul William Klotz of Mobile, Ala.; and niece Dahdee Bullen of Wetumpka, Ala.
A private burial was held at Hollywood Cemetery, and a family memorial service will be held in the near future.
Memorials may be sent to the National World War ll Museum in New Orleans, La.; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn; the World Wildlife Fund; or the McComb Public Library.
A combat veteran, he served as ship photographer for the USS Hollandia, an aircraft carrier which received three battle stars during World War ll. Among other actions, the Hollandia brought back to the United States the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the ship which had ferried the atomic bombs dropped on Japan but which was torpedoed on its way back.
Before the war, he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a brakeman. Other early employment included serving as a photographer-engraver at the McComb Enterprise Journal newspaper, which published many photos with his credit line.
Owner of Klotz Studio on North Broadway for many years, he became an award-winning portrait and commercial photographer. He was equally known for a string of unusual hobbies and interests, which ranged from electronics, computers and ham radio to archeology and exotic animals.
Friends and neighbors were continually surprised to see a parade of creatures at the Klotz home in Edgewood: ocelot, chimpanzee, monkey, fox, squirrel to name a few, and even a young lion at one point! After his retirement from professional photography, he continued his interest in electronics, working at McComb Electric Supply and at Radio Shack. In addition, he enjoyed volunteering to help other seniors in McComb with their computers. To the amazement of friends and family, he was still able to send text messages at age 93.
Born November 22, 1920, he was the son of long-term area physician Dr. S. Paul Klotz and Mrs. Edith Leach Klotz, and the youngest of five brothers: Alvin (Buster), Chandler, Lewis, and Paul, all deceased.
In 1941, he married Alyne Crain Klotz of McComb, who passed away in 1985. They had three children: Carmen Roberson of Columbia, S.C.; Leah Kolt of Camarillo, Cal.; , and Leigh Klotz, Jr. of Palo Alto, Cal. He had seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Other survivors include his niece Mrs. Richard (Stephanie) Moore and her son Richard Moore of McComb and his wife Dolly; nephew Chandler L. Klotz of Tyler, Tex.; nephew Paul William Klotz of Mobile, Ala.; and niece Dahdee Bullen of Wetumpka, Ala.
A private burial was held at Hollywood Cemetery, and a family memorial service will be held in the near future.
Memorials may be sent to the National World War ll Museum in New Orleans, La.; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn; the World Wildlife Fund; or the McComb Public Library.
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