(94) died peacefully in his sleep on January 18, 2013 in his home in Pasadena, CA.
Ed was born April 26, 1918 in Milwaukee, WI to Edward Edgar and May (Schautz) Leason. He grew up in West Allis, WI and then served for a brief time in the Army as a Private in the Artillery Battalion as a Radio Service Man. He then
followed his sweetheart Barbara James to California where they both attended USC. Ed joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and was later wed in 1945. He graduated in 1948, with his BS in Electrical Engineering. They settled in Alhambra and moved to Pasadena in 1957. He then worked in a variety of fields, first for the oil services firm Induflux, then Electrical Engineering and Aircraft Design for North American Aviation (later acquired by Rockwell, then Boeing), and finally part time for Rose Hills. A man of great faith and long time parishioner of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, Ed volunteered as Assistant Treasurer and Usher and studied Bible with the Men’s Group. Ed also enjoyed his involvement with the Lion’s Club.
Ed had many passions which included the stock market, stamp and coin collecting, trains, Dixeland Jazz and swimming. Having joined the “Polar Bear Club” for winter swims in Lake Michigan as a young man, Ed could devote himself to daily swims in his unheated California pool, no matter how chill the weather. Ed also took great interest in caring for his home and was quite handy with repair and maintenance work. He took great pride in his garden, and if not easily found, could be located out of doors weeding or trimming.
Deeply loved by his family, Ed is survived by: son James Kaye (JK) and Robin Leason; daughter Nancy Read; five grandchildren Amelia Frinier, Timothy (TJ) Leason, Andrea Martin, Charles Martin and Jason Martin; and four great grandchildren Nathan, Dennis, Eric, and Chloe. “Edward, Ed, Dad, Father, Grandpa, Gogo” will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 28 at 1pm in the chapel at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to “The Edward Leason Memorial Fund” at Hillside House, 1235 Veronica Springs Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 687-0788 x15
