Gearhart, Leslie Alvin 1922-2003

GEARHART, BARNETT, SNOOK, ADAMS, CHASE, FANE

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 10/17/2005 at 21:34:07

Leslie Alvin Gearhart, 81, of Newton, died Sunday, April 13, at Iowa Veteran's Home in Knoxville.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Reese Chapel in Newton. No visitation is planned. The family will greet friends following the memorial service at the Tribute Center, located at 201 E. 4th St. N. in Newton.

The son of Spencer and Edna Barnett Gearhart, he was born Feb. 18, 1922, in Collins. He graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1941, where he lettered in football, basketball and track all four years and held a mile run record at the high school for 16 years.

On Nov. 25, 1942, he married Wanda Snook in Bethany, Mo. He was a member of the United States Navy during World War II and served on the U.S.S. Birmingham Light Cruiser from 1942 to 1945, which received nine battle stars while in service. After leaving the Navy, he served as manager of Snook Inn and along with his wife Wanda, owned and operated the Highway 6 Club and AM Vets Club. He was an owner/operator with North American Van Lines for 24 years and received numerous awards for quality and service. He enjoyed restoring and collecting antique cars.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Burton C. Gearhart of Garland, Texas; three daughters, Debbie Adams of Rock Creek, Leslie Gearhart of Des Moines and Judy Chase of Roseburg, Ore.; a sister, Lucille Fane of Newton; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The Newton (IA) Daily News, Tuesday, April 15, 2003