LEONARD "LEN" 1931-2012 Age 81, a resident of Los Lunas, NM passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Len was born in Nevada, Missouri. Growing up in Wichita, Kansas Len developed a life-long love of airplanes and flying. He served four years in the Air Force and for part of that time was stationed on Iwo Jima. Len studied engineering at University of Wichita. Len did design work for Coleman Company in Wichita. He moved his family to Albuquerque, NM in 1958 and began work at Sandia Corporation. After retirement from Sandia, he also worked for the Dale Bellamah Corporation in planning and design and the University of New Mexico Engineering Department. Through the years Len was active in all aspects of the real estate business, as a realtor, broker, contractor and drafter. He worked from home doing house plans for local builders up to his 80th birthday. In his personal life, Len married Patricia Goben in 1953. Pat and Len had a son, Gary Strawderman in 1958. Len passed his love of flying on to Gary who is a pilot and FAA controller. Len married Carol Wright on January 1, 1978. After a short stint in Lubbock where Carol taught at Texas Tech, they returned to NM. Len and Carol designed and built their dream house in Los Lunas. Len and Carol were members of Peralta Methodist Church. He loved dogs and duck hunting. When his favorite dog, Zack, was too old to hunt, Len hung up his shotgun as well. Len enjoyed motorcycles and recently had a Honda Goldwing modified into a trike. Only three years ago he and Gary rode to Washington State and back. He was active in the Goldwing Road Riders Association. Recently Len was delighted by the arrival of grand-baby Gavin. He was preceded in death by his parents; and beloved wife of 27 years, Carol Strawderman. Len is survived by his son, Gary; grandson, Gavin Lee; two step-daughters, Barbara Wright and Rebecca Beeson and husband, Tom; two grandchildren, Noah and Cheyanna; step-son, David Wright and wife, Jane; and friend, Sallie Van Curan who has been a great comfort to Len since Carol's passing. The family request that donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project.org. All services will be held at Peralta Memorial United Methodist Church on Thursday, May 10 beginning with a Visitation at 10:30 a.m. with a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Terrace Grove Cemetery. Sign Leonard's online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home 609 N. Main St. Belen, NM 87002
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