James Junior Leathers

LEATHERS, KNIGHT, HAMPTON, PATTERSON, BUTLER

Posted By: Stacy Bliesener (email)
Date: 10/24/2014 at 16:49:07

James Junior Leathers, 71, of Burlington, died on Saturday, March 29, 2003 at his home.

Born March 10, 1932, in Webster Springs, West Virginia, he was the son of Harold and Erma Frances Knight Leathers. On December 6, 1958 he married Yvonne Nell Hampton in Springfield, Illinois.

Mr. Leathers was a career combat engineer and E8 Master Sargeant in the United States Army. He served two tours in Korea with the First Infantry, where he was a prisoner of war and obtained a Purple Heart. He served two tours in Vietnam with the 485th Engineers and during that time was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star along with a second Purple Heart.

He later was a machinist for the Burlington Northern Railroad until he retired. He owned and operated the Main Street Tap and then the South Side Inn. In his spare time, he operated a roofing company and owned rental properties.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Roy L. Patterson of Oakville, and James H. Leathers of Danville; three daughters, Revonne Butler of Gladstone, Illinois, Wanita Leathers of Burlington and Holly Leathers of Vandalia, Missouri; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Beatrice Clark of Phenix City, Arkansas, and Constance Handy of LaPort, South Carolina; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one sister and one granddaughter.

Visitation will begin after 8 a.m. Wednesday at Prugh's Chapel where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8:30 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Leathers will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Prugh's Chapel with the Rev. Harry Hollingsworth officiating. Burial will be in Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery, with graveside military rites being conducted by VFW Posts 10102 & 9162, Marine Corps League and the American Legion Post 52.

A memorial has been established for the Veterans Honor Guard.