Obituaries : Leland LeRoy 'Lee' Laton

Leland LeRoy "Lee" Laton

VINTON:

Leland LeRoy "Lee" Laton, 91, died Friday, February 28, 2014 at the Vinton Lutheran Home following an extended illness.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. 6th St. in Vinton with Pastor Zach Zajicek and Pastor John Karrick officiating. Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Military rites will be conducted by the Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post # 57 and United States Navy Honors. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left for the Geo G. Luckey American Legion Post.

Lee was born June 23, 1922 in Spencer, Iowa to Vernon and Nellie B. (Bratton) Laton. Lee enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, just prior to his high school graduation. He received an Honorary High School Graduation Certificate from the State of Iowa, through the American Legion. Lee served in Naval Aviation with tours during World War II and the Korean Conflict.

On October 19, 1941 he was united in marriage to Doris Jane Summy at Cedar Rapids. Doris preceded Lee in death Christmas Day, 2012.

Lee was employed at Cromers Farm & Fleet and Vinton Motor Supply. He also worked as a truck driver for Rock Island Motor Transport, Pals Transfer and the Dysart Trucking Company. Lee was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church and held many church offices through the years. He enjoyed singing in the church choir and the Benton County Community Choir. Doris and Lee often sang with their two daughters during Church services.

He was a member of the Geo G. Luckey American Legion Post # 57 in Vinton and enjoyed camping, roller skating, woodworking, word puzzles and cutting and splitting firewood for friends.

Lee is survived by his son, Richard “Rick” (Marsha) Laton of Princeton, IL; his daughters, Sandra (Larry) Driscol of Vinton, and Kathryn (Randy) Olson of Washington; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and his sister-in-law Betty Laton of Texas.

In addition to his wife Doris, Lee was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Vernon Laton.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.