Notes for Darrell Roger Leabo

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Darrell Roger Leabo

Obit
November 23, 2004
Darrell R. Leabo Darrell R. Leabo, 87, a resident of The Dalles, died at home after a long fight with cancer on Monday, Nov. 22, 2004. He was born Dec. 1, 1916 in Boyd, outside the Dufur area, to Miles and Ethel Leabo. He was the oldest of three children. His younger brother, Don, a radio operator on the USS Hull, was lost at sea during World War II. His younger sister, Zona, also preceded him in death. He grew up on the family farm on Eightmile and walked to the one-room school house at Endersby each day. He graduated from The Dalles High School in 1935. After high school, he attended United Engineering School in San Francisco. After graduating, he returned to The Dalles. He joined the National Guard 41st Division in 1939. He was called to active duty in 1940 and was serving at Fort Lewis on Dec. 7, 1941. He was sent to the South Pacific and ended up in Melbourne, Australia. He was quickly sent to New Guinea for jungle fighting, which included considerable hand-to-hand combat. He spent a total of three-and-a-half years overseas. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and received the Bronze Star for bravery. After the war, he attended Coyne Electric School in Chicago. He graduated and returned to The Dalles, where he met Edith Kiedrowski. They married on Aug. 16, 1947. He started Columbia Refrigeration Service and operated this business in The Dalles for almost 35 years. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, “Kitty;” their son, Don and Cicy Wilcox, Redmond, Wash.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; Kathy and Jeff Valendrer, Boise, Idaho and their children, Travis, Kirsten, and Bradon; Jerry Carter, Duvall, Wash.; and his son, Nicholas, Jessica Wilcox, New York, N.Y., and Nick Wilcox, Bellevue, Wash. One of his greatest passions was baseball. He spent many years on the state board of directors of the Oregon Babe Ruth Baseball Association and was tournament director for the State Championship series on several occasions. He also loved to fly and was a licensed pilot. He was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church in The Dalles and was active in the Knights of Columbus. Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Peters Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 26. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. Remembrances can be made to the Oregon Activities Fund at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles, Attention Lynn Hughes, 700 Veterans Drive, The Dalles, OR 97058.