Chandler, Leota M. 1912-2010
CHANDLER, HALL, SIMONS
Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/17/2010 at 09:29:48
ONAWA, Iowa -- Leota M. Chandler, 97, of Onawa passed away Sunday, March 14, 2010, at the Elmwood Care Centre in Onawa.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at the First Christian Church at Onawa, with the Rev. Todd Owen officiating. Burial will be in Onawa Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2010 with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at Rush Family Care Service at Onawa.
Leota Maxine Hall was born Nov. 22, 1912, at Reliance, S.D., the daughter of Asal and Blanche (Simons) Hall. She graduated from Reliance High School in 1930. That fall she began her teaching career by passing a South Dakota state examination. She taught six years in rural South Dakota while continuing her education. She attended General Beedle College at Madison, S.D. in 1932 to 1933 and 1935 to 1936. Then Leota taught first grade in Harrold, S.D., for two years.
Drought, dust storms and grasshoppers in South Dakota caused Leota to try for a school where green grass and trees grew. From 1938 to 1940, she taught primary and first grade at Blencoe, Iowa.
In 1940, she came to Onawa to teach first grade. There she met Glenn Chandler, who was a postal clerk in the Onawa Post Office. They were married Feb. 21, 1942. She continued teaching in Onawa for six years. Four of these years, Glenn was serving in the U.S. Army, some of the time in the Pacific area. He returned to civilian life and his job in the Post Office in 1946.
In November 1946, Melvin Eugene Chandler was born, followed by Linda Mae Chandler in July, 1950. Leota stayed home for 14 years to be with her children.
In 1960, Leota resumed her teaching career again at Blencoe, where she taught sixth grade and later second grade for 15 years; all the time continuing her education. In 1963, she graduated from Morningside College with honors. In 1977, Leota retired from teaching when the Blencoe School was closed. On June 16, 1982, Glenn died following a heart attack in Billings, Mont. They were on a trip to visit their son, Mel, who lived in The Dalles, Ore. Leota continued to live in their home in Onawa for nearly 70 years with twice-a-year trips to visit Mel Chandler in Seattle, Wash., and Linda Buffington in Fort Collins, Colo.
Leota was an active member of the First Christian Church of Onawa, the American Legion Auxiliary, Women's Club, Mesa Club and volunteered at Burgess Memorial Hospital in the gift shop. After Glenn's death, she traveled to Europe, the Holy Lands and the Scandinavian countries in addition to various trips in Canada and the United States, including Hawaii.
Survivors include a son, Melvin of Edmonds, Wash.; a daughter, Linda Buffington of Fort Collins, Colo.; five grandchildren, Nicole and Mark Buffington and Ian, Brianna and Julienne Chandler; and a brother, Gordon Hall of Denver, Colo.
Leota will be greatly missed by both family and friends.
Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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