LEON  R.  STANFORD , 96, of Larrabee, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at Medical City North Hills, in North Richland Hills, Texas.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 5 ^th , at 1 p.m. at the Larrabee United Methodist Church in Larrabee, Iowa. Pastor Robin Thomas will officiate. Visitation with the family present will be from 12:30 p.m.  until service time to visit with friends and family. Masks will be required at the memorial service. Private family burial of the cremains following the service will be in the Cedar Cemetery at Larrabee, Iowa with military rites conducted by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W. and the Cherokee American Legion. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com Memorials can be made to the Larrabee United Methodist Church in memory of Leon.

Leon was born August 16, 1924 in Larrabee, Iowa, the oldest child of five to Leonard & Carrie (Leeds) Stanford. He attended Larrabee schools. He enjoyed playing basketball and baseball while in high school. He graduated from Larrabee High School in 1942.

After high school he attended Business School in Sioux City until he was inducted into the Army in May 1943 where he was wounded in Germany in 1944. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. He received a bachelor's degree from Buena Vista College and a master's degree from the University of South Dakota.

Leon was united in marriage to his high school classmate Margaret (Brewster) Stanford on June 12, 1949. This union resulted in two children, Doug and Denise.

He was in secondary education for 35 years in Cleghorn, Royal, and Sutherland.  During his career he taught classes, coached boys' and girls' basketball, and was a high school principal. He retired as High School principal from Sutherland High School to the Larrabee farm in 1983. He farmed until 1993.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Sutherland and Larrabee. He taught Sunday School and was the conference lay leader of the Sutherland and Larrabee churches for many years. He was a member of the United Methodist Men in Sutherland and a Lions member while in Royal. He enjoyed reading, fishing with his family, and gardening.

He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret, parents Leonard and Carrie, two brothers Malcolm and Harley, and one sister Joy Tharpe.

He was survived by a son Doug Stanford and wife Vicki of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a daughter Denise Stanford of Watauga, Texas; four grandchildren Matthew Stanford and wife Cindy, Jason Stanford and wife Kristin, Amy Stanford, and Emily Churchman; four great grandchildren Jackson, William, Lily, and Anne; one brother Duane Stanford and wife Sharon; one sister-in-law Opal Stanford; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.