Funeral Services for Leonard J. Abrahams, 103, believed to be the oldest WWII Veteran, will be held 2:00 P.M., Friday, October 5, 2018 in the First Mennonite Church, and officiated by Pastor Daniel Mosburg. Burial will following in the Corn Mennonite Cemetery in Corn, Oklahoma, under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.
Leonard Jacob Abrahams was born June 5, 1915 to Jacob J. and Susie (Boese) Abrahams in Corn, Oklahoma and passed away Saturday, September 29, 2018 in the Clinton Veterans Center in Clinton, OK.
Mr. Abrahams was raised in Corn, Oklahoma and attended and graduated from both Corn Public School as well as Corn Bible Academy. He attended an electrician school in Chicago, IL before marrying Edna Mae Engel on February 15, 1942. Soon after he was married he was enlisted into the United States Army.
Leonard served in the Army as an aircraft electrician technician. He entered the Army on February 25, 1942. He did his Basic training at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls Texas. May 1942 his unit took a ship down the Mississippi River to the Gulf to the Caribbean Sea to Trinidad. While stationed at Walker field for a year and a half he worked on B-29 Bombers. Leonard attended several schools in Brooklyn, New York, Harrington, Kansas, and Engle California. October of 1944 he shipped out destination Guam. Ship was afloat several hours with engine problems. November 1944 arrived at Harmon Field in Guam where he continued working on the B-29. November of 1945 flew to San Francisco, took a train to Fort Leavenworth Kansas for his honorable discharge and then to El Reno, OK where he met his wife Edna and his baby boy Belford. At the time of his discharge he had obtained the rank of Master Sergeant. He became a farmer and Educator. He was described as a "students' teacher". He believed in taking care of his students. He was a true leader not only in the war but also in the class room. Leonard, over the years was described as a man of character, honest with integrity.
After his honorable discharge he returned to Corn, Oklahoma. He continued his education at Southwestern State College in Weatherford and achieved Bachelors in education. He taught his first year in Custer City School. He went on to receive his Masters Degree and moved his family to Clinton where he taught Industrial Arts his first year. He then became the principal at Southwest Elementary School where he retired in 1979.
During his retirement years he enjoyed farming and traveling.
He was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church and he was a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna, grandson Craig Meyer and two brothers Irvin Abrahams and Orville Abrahams and sister, Elsie Bartel.
He is survived by his son, Belford Abrahams, Cordell; two daughters, Lynette Davis and husband, Mike, Mustang and Beth Ann Meyer and husband Stewart, Chickasha.
He is also survived by five grandchildren, Gary Abrahams, and wife, Lisa, Hudson, FL, Toni Boyle and husband, Albert, Zephyrhills, FL , Kim Frost and husband, Eric, Edmond, Christy Schroeder and husband, Brandon El Reno, OK and Deserae Butler, and husband, Zack, Chickasha and 18 great-grandchildren.
(Excerpt from the Centenarians of Oklahoma Biography)
Leonard was honored in 2012 by the Oklahoma Teacher's Retirement Association. In 2015, when he turned 100 he spoke to the South West School in Clinton to talk to the students about what school was like when he was there and when he was growing up. He was principal of that school until he retired in 1979.
Leonard was an avid walker, he drove to McDonalds every day for coffee and then walked to the KMart and back. He left these words of wisdom for younger folks: "Don't ever quit. Age is just a number. Don't use age as an excuse."
Leonard Jacob Abrahams was born June 5, 1915 to Jacob J. and Susie (Boese) Abrahams in Corn, Oklahoma and passed away Saturday, September 29, 2018 in the Clinton Veterans Center in Clinton, OK.
Mr. Abrahams was raised in Corn, Oklahoma and attended and graduated from both Corn Public School as well as Corn Bible Academy. He attended an electrician school in Chicago, IL before marrying Edna Mae Engel on February 15, 1942. Soon after he was married he was enlisted into the United States Army.
Leonard served in the Army as an aircraft electrician technician. He entered the Army on February 25, 1942. He did his Basic training at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls Texas. May 1942 his unit took a ship down the Mississippi River to the Gulf to the Caribbean Sea to Trinidad. While stationed at Walker field for a year and a half he worked on B-29 Bombers. Leonard attended several schools in Brooklyn, New York, Harrington, Kansas, and Engle California. October of 1944 he shipped out destination Guam. Ship was afloat several hours with engine problems. November 1944 arrived at Harmon Field in Guam where he continued working on the B-29. November of 1945 flew to San Francisco, took a train to Fort Leavenworth Kansas for his honorable discharge and then to El Reno, OK where he met his wife Edna and his baby boy Belford. At the time of his discharge he had obtained the rank of Master Sergeant. He became a farmer and Educator. He was described as a "students' teacher". He believed in taking care of his students. He was a true leader not only in the war but also in the class room. Leonard, over the years was described as a man of character, honest with integrity.
After his honorable discharge he returned to Corn, Oklahoma. He continued his education at Southwestern State College in Weatherford and achieved Bachelors in education. He taught his first year in Custer City School. He went on to receive his Masters Degree and moved his family to Clinton where he taught Industrial Arts his first year. He then became the principal at Southwest Elementary School where he retired in 1979.
During his retirement years he enjoyed farming and traveling.
He was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church and he was a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna, grandson Craig Meyer and two brothers Irvin Abrahams and Orville Abrahams and sister, Elsie Bartel.
He is survived by his son, Belford Abrahams, Cordell; two daughters, Lynette Davis and husband, Mike, Mustang and Beth Ann Meyer and husband Stewart, Chickasha.
He is also survived by five grandchildren, Gary Abrahams, and wife, Lisa, Hudson, FL, Toni Boyle and husband, Albert, Zephyrhills, FL , Kim Frost and husband, Eric, Edmond, Christy Schroeder and husband, Brandon El Reno, OK and Deserae Butler, and husband, Zack, Chickasha and 18 great-grandchildren.
(Excerpt from the Centenarians of Oklahoma Biography)
Leonard was honored in 2012 by the Oklahoma Teacher's Retirement Association. In 2015, when he turned 100 he spoke to the South West School in Clinton to talk to the students about what school was like when he was there and when he was growing up. He was principal of that school until he retired in 1979.
Leonard was an avid walker, he drove to McDonalds every day for coffee and then walked to the KMart and back. He left these words of wisdom for younger folks: "Don't ever quit. Age is just a number. Don't use age as an excuse."
Funeral Services for Leonard J. Abrahams, 103, believed to be the oldest WWII Veteran, will be held 2:00 P.M., Friday, October 5, 2018 in the First Mennonite Church, and officiated by Pastor Daniel Mosburg. Burial will following in the Corn Mennonite Cemetery in Corn, Oklahoma, under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.
Leonard Jacob Abrahams was born June 5, 1915 to Jacob J. and Susie (Boese) Abrahams in Corn, Oklahoma and passed away Saturday, September 29, 2018 in the Clinton Veterans Center in Clinton, OK.
Mr. Abrahams was raised in Corn, Oklahoma and attended and graduated from both Corn Public School as well as Corn Bible Academy. He attended an electrician school in Chicago, IL before marrying Edna Mae Engel on February 15, 1942. Soon after he was married he was enlisted into the United States Army.
Leonard served in the Army as an aircraft electrician technician. He entered the Army on February 25, 1942. He did his Basic training at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls Texas. May 1942 his unit took a ship down the Mississippi River to the Gulf to the Caribbean Sea to Trinidad. While stationed at Walker field for a year and a half he worked on B-29 Bombers. Leonard attended several schools in Brooklyn, New York, Harrington, Kansas, and Engle California. October of 1944 he shipped out destination Guam. Ship was afloat several hours with engine problems. November 1944 arrived at Harmon Field in Guam where he continued working on the B-29. November of 1945 flew to San Francisco, took a train to Fort Leavenworth Kansas for his honorable discharge and then to El Reno, OK where he met his wife Edna and his baby boy Belford. At the time of his discharge he had obtained the rank of Master Sergeant. He became a farmer and Educator. He was described as a "students' teacher". He believed in taking care of his students. He was a true leader not only in the war but also in the class room. Leonard, over the years was described as a man of character, honest with integrity.
After his honorable discharge he returned to Corn, Oklahoma. He continued his education at Southwestern State College in Weatherford and achieved Bachelors in education. He taught his first year in Custer City School. He went on to receive his Masters Degree and moved his family to Clinton where he taught Industrial Arts his first year. He then became the principal at Southwest Elementary School where he retired in 1979.
During his retirement years he enjoyed farming and traveling.
He was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church and he was a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna, grandson Craig Meyer and two brothers Irvin Abrahams and Orville Abrahams and sister, Elsie Bartel.
He is survived by his son, Belford Abrahams, Cordell; two daughters, Lynette Davis and husband, Mike, Mustang and Beth Ann Meyer and husband Stewart, Chickasha.
He is also survived by five grandchildren, Gary Abrahams, and wife, Lisa, Hudson, FL, Toni Boyle and husband, Albert, Zephyrhills, FL , Kim Frost and husband, Eric, Edmond, Christy Schroeder and husband, Brandon El Reno, OK and Deserae Butler, and husband, Zack, Chickasha and 18 great-grandchildren.
(Excerpt from the Centenarians of Oklahoma Biography)
Leonard was honored in 2012 by the Oklahoma Teacher's Retirement Association. In 2015, when he turned 100 he spoke to the South West School in Clinton to talk to the students about what school was like when he was there and when he was growing up. He was principal of that school until he retired in 1979.
Leonard was an avid walker, he drove to McDonalds every day for coffee and then walked to the KMart and back. He left these words of wisdom for younger folks: "Don't ever quit. Age is just a number. Don't use age as an excuse."
Leonard Jacob Abrahams was born June 5, 1915 to Jacob J. and Susie (Boese) Abrahams in Corn, Oklahoma and passed away Saturday, September 29, 2018 in the Clinton Veterans Center in Clinton, OK.
Mr. Abrahams was raised in Corn, Oklahoma and attended and graduated from both Corn Public School as well as Corn Bible Academy. He attended an electrician school in Chicago, IL before marrying Edna Mae Engel on February 15, 1942. Soon after he was married he was enlisted into the United States Army.
Leonard served in the Army as an aircraft electrician technician. He entered the Army on February 25, 1942. He did his Basic training at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls Texas. May 1942 his unit took a ship down the Mississippi River to the Gulf to the Caribbean Sea to Trinidad. While stationed at Walker field for a year and a half he worked on B-29 Bombers. Leonard attended several schools in Brooklyn, New York, Harrington, Kansas, and Engle California. October of 1944 he shipped out destination Guam. Ship was afloat several hours with engine problems. November 1944 arrived at Harmon Field in Guam where he continued working on the B-29. November of 1945 flew to San Francisco, took a train to Fort Leavenworth Kansas for his honorable discharge and then to El Reno, OK where he met his wife Edna and his baby boy Belford. At the time of his discharge he had obtained the rank of Master Sergeant. He became a farmer and Educator. He was described as a "students' teacher". He believed in taking care of his students. He was a true leader not only in the war but also in the class room. Leonard, over the years was described as a man of character, honest with integrity.
After his honorable discharge he returned to Corn, Oklahoma. He continued his education at Southwestern State College in Weatherford and achieved Bachelors in education. He taught his first year in Custer City School. He went on to receive his Masters Degree and moved his family to Clinton where he taught Industrial Arts his first year. He then became the principal at Southwest Elementary School where he retired in 1979.
During his retirement years he enjoyed farming and traveling.
He was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church and he was a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna, grandson Craig Meyer and two brothers Irvin Abrahams and Orville Abrahams and sister, Elsie Bartel.
He is survived by his son, Belford Abrahams, Cordell; two daughters, Lynette Davis and husband, Mike, Mustang and Beth Ann Meyer and husband Stewart, Chickasha.
He is also survived by five grandchildren, Gary Abrahams, and wife, Lisa, Hudson, FL, Toni Boyle and husband, Albert, Zephyrhills, FL , Kim Frost and husband, Eric, Edmond, Christy Schroeder and husband, Brandon El Reno, OK and Deserae Butler, and husband, Zack, Chickasha and 18 great-grandchildren.
(Excerpt from the Centenarians of Oklahoma Biography)
Leonard was honored in 2012 by the Oklahoma Teacher's Retirement Association. In 2015, when he turned 100 he spoke to the South West School in Clinton to talk to the students about what school was like when he was there and when he was growing up. He was principal of that school until he retired in 1979.
Leonard was an avid walker, he drove to McDonalds every day for coffee and then walked to the KMart and back. He left these words of wisdom for younger folks: "Don't ever quit. Age is just a number. Don't use age as an excuse."
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