Leon Sanford

Leon Neil Sanford, 90, of Mountain Home, passed away Saturday, January 27, 2018 in North Carolina. A funeral service will be held Monday, February 5, 2018, 11:00AM, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, with viewing starting at 9:30AM, funeral service at 11:00AM, followed with military honors and burial at Mountain View Cemetery.

Leon was born November 2, 1927 in Waynesville, North Carolina to Robert “Gilmer” and Leola (Hill) Sanford. He attended and graduated with Honors from Crabtree-Ironduff High School in 1945.

In 1949 Leon joined the US Air Force and completed two years of college and was in the Air Force for twenty-six years. During that time he served in Iceland, twice in Korea during the Korean War working mainly in personnel and supply. His family missed him while away but honored by his service to our Country. In 1975 Leon retired from the Air Force as a Master Sargent.

During this time in Leon’s life he met and married Louise Burrell on May 21, 1955 and Leon gained a step-son, Ronald Cagle. While in the Air Force he pitched the MHAFB Softball team to a championship victory.

After retirement Leon and Louise managed the Park Central Apartments. He was an avid rock hound with all the tools of the trade. In 1994, Leon started and commanded the Mountain Home Citizens on Patrol “C.O.P.s”. In Sept. 2006, the Elmore County Sheriff asked Leon to start up as commander of Elmore County Citizens on Patrol “C.O.P’.s”. Leon also held the position of the President of the “C.O.P.’s” for the State of Idaho. He was also a proud member of the USA Freedoms Corps, American Legion Post #26, and Elks Lodge BPOE #2276. He also enjoyed bowling, and donating money and time to many groups to include the Father Flanagan’s Boys Home and the Idaho Wounded Warrior Project.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna Sanford Stewart, Patricia (Jeff) Ingalls; sister, Loraine Caldwell; grandchildren, Danny Smiley Jr., Gretchen Smith, Seth Harris; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Leon was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Gilmer Sanford and Leola Reva Hill Sanford; wife, Louise Burrell Sanford; brothers, Farrell Sanford, Max Sanford; sisters, Audrey Moore and Jane Lonsway; step-son, Ronald Cagle and grandson, Jeremy Smiley.