LEON C. POYNTER

Mr. Leon C. Poynter, 85, of 1601 S. 24th St., died at 12:25 p.m. Thursday (July 6, 2006) in Blessing Hospital.

Born August 22, 1920 in Toronto, Canada, Leon was the son of Charles and Annie Barrett Poynter.

Mr. Poynter served his country in the U. S. Army during WWII as a combat engineer in the South Pacific for over three years. Leon was awarded a Purple Heart after having been wounded on "D-Day" in the Philippines. He was made a naturalized citizen while serving in the New Guinea Campaign. Staff Sergeant Poynter had enter the service December 6, 1942 before he had completed his naturalization papers.

Mr. Poynter was a graduate of Seymour High School of Payson, attended Hannibal LaGrange College before graduating from Western Illinois University in Macomb. He later earned his Master's Degree from Colorado State College of Education. Mr. Poynter began his teaching career in Adams County rural schools. He later taught 8 years at Shelbyville High School in Shelbyville, Illinois and then for 25 years with the Kankakee School System retiring in 1975. After his retirement, Leon traveled extensively throughout the world, often visiting his relatives in Great Britain.

He is survived by numerous close friends and family members from England and Canada.

Mr. Poynter was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Marion Poynter.

Graveside services will be held Monday morning at 10:30 in the Payson New Cemetery by Rev. Ron Cox. Military honors will be conducted by the Payson V.F.W. Post #2061.

There is no visitation, but friends are invited to attend the graveside service.

Memorials may be made to the Plainville Lion's Club, Plainville Methodist Church, or the Plainville Baptist Church.

Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.