RINGGOLD James Robert Leonard, 80, went home to be with his Lord, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. He was a resident of the Chattanooga North Georgia Area since 1965 and was a member of Battlefield Baptist Church, Fort Oglethorpe.James served his country in the U.S. Army, was a minister to several local nursing facilities for the past 30 years and served as a deacon in his church.James was preceded in death by his parents, William B. and Martha Morrisett Leonard; sister, Thelma French; 2 infant brothers and brother, Claude Leonard.He is survived by his wife, of 55 years, Elizabeth Leonard; daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Mark Cole, of Chattanooga, Julia and Joe Watson, of Ringgold, Kathy and Troy Johnson, of La., and Jessica and Larry Winfrey, of TX; sisters, Ruby (Bill) Brogan, of Tenn., and Helen Turner, of Tenn.; brother, Clifford (Frances) Leonard, of Tenn.; grandchildren, Amy (Chuck) Oaks, James Cole, Carrie Cole, Rhema Winfrey, Liam Winfrey, Aidan Winfrey, Ryder Winfrey, Josiah Johnson, Rayna Johnson, and Will Watson, and numerous nieces and nephews.The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 28, at Battlefield Baptist Church, Ft. Oglethorpe, with Bro. David Crane and Bro. Ralph Long officiating. Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends after 4 p.m. today at the Ft. Oglethorpe chapel and from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the service time at the church. Arrangements by W.L. Wilson and Sons Funeral Home-Ft. Oglethorpe.
