Kenosha, Wisc.--Leonard Pershing Smith, recently of Kenosha Wisc., died in his sleep on Father's Day morning, June 19, 2011, at the age of 91. Leonard was born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Saltillo, the youngest of seven children of Lewis Pinckney (aka Pink) Smith and the last to die. He served in the Army during WWII in Persia where he was a baker, returning to marry Virgie Mae Phillips of the Tupelo area. Together they raised three children, Mary Ann, Jerry and William.

He lived and worked for years in Kenosha, mostly at American Motors, before retiring to Fulton in 1979. Always a country boy at heart, Leonard could never forget the red dirt hills of North Mississippi and wherever else he lived, that was always home. He moved to Verona n 1981, where he became a member of the Verona Church of Christ and attended services regularly. His loving wife, Virgie died before him in 1995. He will be buried beside her at Lee Memorial Park Cemetery in Verona. There will be a graveside memorial on Thursday, June 23, 2011, at 10 a.m. at Lee Memorial Park with Bro. Wayne Cox officiating. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Leonard is survived by hiss sons Jerry and William as well as four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Leonard enjoyed playing guitar and singing country music with friends and family whenever the opportunity arose. He was very honest, charitable, kind in spirit and was always available to help anyone who needed it. he like to garden, giving away much of what he grew to those who needed or wanted it and loved to eat, with good old country cooking his favorite. Leonard will be missed by all who knew him and was much loved by his familial, friends, and church brethren.