Robert R. Leonard, M.D., 90, of Moscow, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014, while at home with his family from complications related to large B cell lymphoma. Memorial services with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. next Saturday at the United Church of Moscow. A reception will follow the memorial service.
Robert Ray Leonard (aka Jim, Jim Bob, Bob, Dr. Bob, Dad, Grandpa Bob, Great Grandpa Bob, and formally as Robert R. Leonard, M.D.) was born in 1924 to Robert Ray Leonard and Julia Francis Stolberg Leonard on a goat farm in Gunnison, Colo., where his father was employed. The family moved permanently to Hood River, Ore., shortly after his birth. He graduated from Hood River High School, worked building the Bonneville Dam and then enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. The Army quickly decided he was an excellent candidate for medical school and sent him off to study at the University of Indiana School of Medicine, where he graduated in 1947. He went on to become an internist. While in medical school he met Lois Evelyn Liggett in Cincinnati, quickly fell in love, and they were married on Dec. 27, 1947.
While in the military, they moved often as he was stationed at several Army hospitals: Letterman in San Francisco, Madigan in Fort Lewis, Wash., the first U.S. military clinic in Saigon, Vietnam, the West Point Hospital in West Point, N.Y., and numerous other locations for short periods. After 20 years, Dr. Leonard retired from the Army in 1966 while stationed at West Point. Bob and Lois moved with their family of six children to Moscow that summer, where he went to work for the University of Idaho as a doctor at the Student Health Center. Later he became its director, and in 1981 implemented several cost-cutting measures, including closing the 80-bed infirmary with surgical facilities on the second floor of the center. After 25 years, he retired from UI in 1991. High on the list of reasons Bob and Lois chose UI and Moscow as a place to settle with their family was the fact that it afforded Bob lots of time off during the summer and Christmas season to spend with his family.
Throughout life, Bob's primary interests and motivations were his love for family, church and community. He and Lois together, for that is the way they were almost always experienced, drew strength from their shared love to offer love and support to their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and everyone else they touched. Together they were instrumental in helping bring together two struggling congregations, the American Baptist and the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, to form a new dynamic congregation at the United Church of Moscow. Before coming to Moscow, Bob and Lois were strong supporters of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local YMCAs or YWCAs, and youth activities in their communities. In Moscow they supported many 4-H programs and regularly purchased
4-H animals at the fair to support youth animal projects. Bob also loved to barbecue, garden and go hunting, fishing and camping with his family and friends. He was a former president of Friendly Neighbors, Moscow's senior meal site, and helped deliver Meals on Wheels. Above all, he focused on celebrating life and love for family, friends, community and country.
Bob was preceded in death by his sister, Maxine (Jack) Andersen; two sons, Carl Alan and David Ray Leonard; and granddaughter Delora Lyn Dolsen.
He is survived by his wife, Lois of Moscow; his brother, Richard (Dick) (Ada) Leonard of Hood River, Ore.; four children: sons Jerry Leonard (Tamolin Lanting) of Moscow and Gene (Betty) Leonard of Moscow; and daughters Linda (Dana) Dolsen of Moscow and Lori (Shane) Hyde of Lewiston. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with more on the way.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but departs life leaving them knowing that his everlasting love and support continues in their lives and is still visible in their unlimited memories of loving and fun times shared and the many stories they will tell over and over again.
Memorial contributions in Bob's honor are suggested to Circles of Caring Adult Day Health or to the Meals on Wheels/Friendly Neighbors program. Kimball Funeral Home and Crematory of Pullman has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kimballfh.com.
