Glenn Leddy

Funeral services for Glenn Leroy Leddy, age 88, of Cookeville, TN will be held Tuesday, April, 26, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Two of his coffee group friends, Dr. Thurston Banks and Dr. Fred Vondra will officiate. Interment will follow in Cookeville City Cemetery with military honors by the U.S. Marine Corp Honor Guard. HIs family will receive friends Monday, April 25, 2016 5 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston Horner Funeral Home with Masonic Service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue Tuesday 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. service time at the funeral home. Mr. Leddy died Wednesday morning, April 20, 2016 peacefully at his home on his wedding anniversary which would have been his 65th. He battled over 5 years of Pulmonary Fibrosis & Cardiac disease. He was born February 27, 1928 at Corona, New Mexico to the late John Henry (Harry) Leddy, who was born September 5, 1867 in Christian Co., Illinois and Eva N. Albert Leddy born November 4, 1891 in Olney, Illinois. . Mr. Leddy began his education at Johns Valley, Oklahoma, in a one room log school house moving from there to Antlers, Oklahoma for his remaining elementary and secondary education. He played on the Antlers High school basketball & football teams. With patriotism he left high school early at age 17 to volunteer for the U. S. Merchants Marines in September 1945 – September 1951. During this time he served primarily in the engineering department aboard liberty, tanker and cargo ships working with reciprocating high pressure steam turbines, and turbo electric engines. He has certifications as an Ordinary Seaman, Lifeboatman, Storekeeper, Oiler, Water tender, and Fireman 2c. He served aboard at least 10 ships including the S/S Michael Moran, S/S Wallace E. Pratt, S/S Esso Asheville, S/S Esso Charleston, S/S Esso Montpelier, S/S Utica, S/S Esso Paterson, S/S Crown Point, S/S Roanoke, and S/S Kern Hills. On April 20, 1951 this merchant marine made the catch of his life when he married East Central College student Bettie Cordelia Jo (Delia) Taylor (born February 26, 1931) at the Central Church of Christ in Ada, Oklahoma. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage until her death on October 2, 2012. On March 19, 1952 he joined the U.S. Marine Corp. Upon completion of boot camp in San Diego, CA he was selected to the honor platoon. He was stationed in Jacksonville, FL to complete Airman A&P School and was then transferred to Memphis Naval Air Station, Millington, TN for Aircraft mechanic AM (A) school. He was selected to teach and work with training devices. He had an extra job with Special Services as a Projectionist at the base theater. He earned the Expert Marksman Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Lance Corporal Leddy was offered the promotion to sergeant, but upon his wife's encouragement, he left active duty to continue his education and start his family. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve until March 18, 1960. Beginning his civilian life he worked from 1954-1968 at WHBQ – TV in Memphis, TN (ABC network at that time) as a Broadcasting Engineer. Both of his children were born in Memphis, TN. While working full time he earned his High School General Equivalency degree and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts with minors in Education & History from Memphis State University. He moved the family from Memphis to Cookeville TN in September 1968 upon accepting the invitation to become Instructor in Industrial Technology (now known as Manufacturing & Engineering Technology) in the College of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University. In 1972 he completed his Master of Arts in Teaching with major in Industrial Technology, (cum laude) from Middle TN State University and was promoted to Assistant Professor in Industrial Technology at TTU. He served as a faculty advisor for Epsilon PI Tau and the TTU Amateur Radio Society. After 27 years of teaching he retired in 1994. He was honored by being nominated and approved Professor Emeritus. For several years he served on the Industrial Technology Advisory Board. For many years Glenn & Delia Leddy attended most Tennessee Tech University home basketball and football games. In addition to his family and military service, Mr. Leddy considered his greatest contribution in life to be preparing young people for the future in industrial engineering fields. His professional society involvement included the American Industrial Arts Society, Society of Industrial Technology, Industrial Arts Vocational Education, National Education Association, and the Tennessee Education Association. Mr. Leddy had many areas of interest. He loved the outdoors, hunting, firearms, fishing, camping, amateur (ham) radio (WA4RYH), family time and traveling. He was a member of Cookeville Masonic Lodge 266 and a 62 year member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was a charter member and past president of the Cookeville Repeater Association, Short Mountain Repeater Club , Cookeville-Putnam County Emergency Management Sky-Watch Storm Spotters, Cookeville Rod & Gun Club, over 50 year member of the National Rifle Association, The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as an Assistant Scout Master & Merit Badge Counselor for Boy Scout Troop 196. In addition to his parents and wife , he was preceded in death by 2 sisters Ruth Lorene Leddy Thompson (born June 2, 1918), and Syble Marie Leddy Scott (born October 8, 1920), and one brother James Monroe Leddy (born February 2, 1924) 4 half-sisters and 6 half-brothers; 4 brother-in-law's, Charles Raymond Hunt, Lurtis W. Scott , James Monroe Taylor, Silas Peter Taylor, Jr., 4 sisters-in-law, Vera Saunders Leddy, Judith Gail Holt Leddy, Ileta Irene (Pat) Mitchell Taylor; Lena Taylor Hunt, two nieces, Linda Sue (Susie) Taylor, Priscilla Jane Hunt Ray; three nephews Scott Alan Leddy, Curry Lynn Scott, and James Michael Taylor. Survivors include a son, a daughter and their spouses, Steve Neal Leddy and Cynthia Garrett Leddy, Terry Kay Leddy Hughes and Garth Allan Hughes ; 4 grandchildren, Glenn Paul Leddy, Holly Anne Hughes Cannon, Katelyn Elizabeth Leddy, and Natalie Brooke Hughes all of Cookeville, TN; 1 sister-in-law Billie Fae Walker Taylor of Healdton, OK. Nieces and Nephews include Spencer Don Leddy, Tracy Leddy Walls, Bruce Leddy, Johnny Hugh Scott, Eva Sue Robinson Long, Gerald J. Thompson, Donald R. Thompson, Bettie Allene Taylor Rickner, Dr. Charles Wade Taylor, Myra Louise Taylor Singleton, Tommy Eugene Hunt, Frank Earl Hunt, Ronnie Dean Hunt. In lieu of flowers or plants please make memorial contributions to the Cookeville Children's Theater Building Campaign Fund, P.O. Box 401 Cookeville, TN 38503. www.cookevillechildrenstheatre.com/building-campaign Active pallbearers will be Barry Allison, Robert Craighead, Paul Leddy, J. D. Parks, Dr. Leighton Sissom, Bill Smith, David Roland, and Dale Work. The family requests that honorary pallbearers be members of the Cookeville Rod & Gun Club & the Cookeville Repeater Association. Glenn Leddy will be remembered as a determined, disciplined, principled and thrifty man. He had belief and respect for God as his creator, loved his family, country, and this community.