W.L. "LEONARD" BLEDSOE, 69, of Carbon, TX
passed away on Aug. 27, 2007 in Abilene, TX, with
burial in the Bear Springs Cemetery.
Mr. Bledsoe was born on July 4, 1938, in Stamford,
TX, to James Cicero and Lillian Inez (Willett)
Bledsoe. He was raised in Ranger, TX and attended
Ranger High School. When he was 7 years old, his
father died & he began making his own way working
odd jobs. He began working as a welder's helper
for R.M. Snead, mentored by Red Warren. He became
a pipeline welder in 1959. He married Mittie
Lenora Rone in May of 1959. They lived in Eastland
and Carbon before settling at their current home
near Carbon. Mr. Bledsoe enjoyed farming & ranching
and loved spending time with his family, where his
grandchildren were his pride and joy.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Ranger,
and had served on the Carbon School Board for 16 years.
He was a member of the Carbon Lions Club and the Carbon
Volunteer Fire Department. He was Zone 4 Conservation
Farmer of the Year in 1983.
He was preceded in death by a son, Malcom Bledsoe in
1961; as well as two sisters, Inez Dumith & Lou Terry;
and one brother, Gene Bledsoe (RHS-1959).
Survivors include his wife, Mittie Bledsoe of Carbon;
three sons, Gary & DeeDee Bledsoe of Springtown and Mike
& Elisa Bledsoe and Randy & Sonja Bledsoe all of Carbon;
a brother, J.C. Bledsoe of Cypress; two sisters, Violet
Bledsoe Daskevich (RHS-1951) of Midland and Barbara Bledsoe
Lewis (RHS- 1963) of Breckenridge; eight grandchildren,
Richard, Jamie, Abby, Chelsey, Malcom, Katie, Ethan &
Jordan.