Leonard Leroy White of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Monday evening, December 19, 2011, in the Blackwell Regional Hospital at the age of 97 years.

Leonard Leroy White was born on September 17, 1914, in Billings, Oklahoma, to Charles Leroy and Winona Faye (Enfield) White. As a young boy he moved with his family to the Autwine community where he attended Round Grove School. They later moved to Blackwell where he graduated from Blackwell High School in 1932. He furthered his education by attending Phillips University in Enid where he worked his way through school by selling shoes and working as a school night watchman. While in college he served as editor of the school paper and played French horn in the university band and the National Guard band. After three and a half years he began teaching in a country school where he started the school band in Orlando and attended Oklahoma A. & M. in Stillwater each summer to complete his bachelor and master degrees. He married Virginia Frances West in Berryville, Arkansas, on June 29, 1939. Early in 1941 he became band director in Tonkawa before joining the United States Navy in 1942 with the advent of World War II. For the next three years he served as a teacher specialist at the Naval Air Base in Dallas, Texas. After his discharge in 1945, he joined his father in the farm implement business and commuted to Lamont as instrumental music director. He later entered the Blackwell Public School system where he served as principal of Park School. Following the 1955 tornado which destroyed the school, Leonard continued serving as principal of the hastily formed Parkside Elementary School which met in local churches. The next year he became principal of Lovett Junior High School and a short time later was asked to serve as interim superintendent of schools. He was hired as superintendent, subsequently, and held the position until 1967. During this same period, he pursued courses at Oklahoma State University and earned his doctorate of education degree in the spring of 1967. That same year, his profession took a different turn and he became regional representative for a government education project, based in Alva. With the end of the program, he became affiliated with Northwestern State College where he taught government and GED satellite classes. He later worked as business manager becoming an administrative assistant for the university. After taking partial retirement, he returned to Blackwell but continued with Northwestern as director of research and development. He later traveled as the university's recruiting representative before his ultimate retirement. His wife preceded him in death on April 26, 2006, and he continued to make Blackwell his home. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Blackwell where he was a member of the building committee for the present church, taught a Men's Sunday School Class, served as an elder and chairman of the church board. He also served as church administrator and directed the church choir. Leonard took on other responsibilities as he served on several boards including the United Way, Industrial Foundation, Blackwell Hospital Trust Authority, and served as president of the Retired Teachers Association. He also held membership in the American Legion and Blackwell Future Issues Task Force. He enjoyed woodworking, a passion for playing golf and his family, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughter, Julia Ream Smith and her husband Dan of Ponca City; a brother, Charles White and wife Pat of Alva, Oklahoma; a sister, Arline James of Springfield, Missouri; two grandchildren, Ryan Smith and wife Allison of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Jennifer Hodgens and husband Craig of Edmond, Oklahoma; and a great grandchild, Autumn Hodgens of Edmond.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Thurman and Harold White.

Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 23rd in the First Christian Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Jeff Koch and grandson, Ryan Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Jack Bookout, Jon Ihrig, JoDel Shepherd, Chad Shepherd, Mike Briggs and Craig Hodgens. Honorary casketbearers will be Frank Dyer and Larry Cannon.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the First Christian Church or the Blackwell School Foundation in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.