Leonard Earle Naylor

Leonard Earle Naylor, 92, who has been a resident at the Parkersburg Care and Rehabilitation Center for the past five and a half years, passed away from Alzheimer's Disease on August 1, 2015. He was born in Medina, West Virginia, (Jackson County) on May 24, 1923. He was the son of the late Leonard Garfield Naylor and the late Blanche Robinson Naylor. He graduated from Gilmore High School in the class of 1940. He later attended Mountain State Business College in Parkersburg, WV. He married Garnet Eloise Emrick on April 27, 1947. Earle was employed as a machinist for the Parkersburg Rig and Reel Company. He served for three years as a member of the South Parkersburg Volunteer Fire Department, until he joined the City of Parkersburg Fire Department in 1950. He retired from the department in 1984, with the rank of Lieutenant. On his days off, he worked as an electrician, wiring houses built by Ray C. Emrick, his wife's brother, as well as many other houses in the Parkersburg area. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Army in the European Theater, with the Headquarters Battery, 314th Field Artillery Battalion. At the time of his discharge, he was serving as Sergeant, Message Center Chief. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee, sang in the church choir, taught Sunday School, was a member of the Official Board and served as a counselor for the youth group. He was a charter member of the Fort Neal Kiwanis Club and was an active member, until the club disbanded. He was the last surviving charter member. Each year he did the electrical wiring for the club's Christmas tree lot. He also enjoyed working with the club's Terrific Kids program and with the Gihon School Conservation Club. For several years he delivered meals through the Salvation Army's Meals on Wheels program. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor who needed one. Earle was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his stepmother, Nola M. Naylor; and his five brothers, Raymond, Edwin, Glen, Vernon and Clyde; and three sisters, Bernice Skinner, Mary Trantham and Clarice Buie. Earle is survived by his daughter, Vickie Bono (Frank) of Parkersburg; two grandsons, Eric Bono (Beth) of Lakewood, Colorado and Jeremy Bono (Susie) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four great-grandchildren, Ellia and Celine Bono of Colorado Springs and Phoebe and Shane Bono of Lakewood; as well as several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Parkersburg Care Center and Housecalls Hospice for their compassionate care of Earle. The funeral will be held on Saturday, August 8th at Trinity United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Rev. Michael Daniels will officiate and burial will follow at Evergreen North Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, August 7th at Kimes Funeral Home and for an hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. The family requests that donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 2404 10th Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26101 or Alzheimer's Association, West Virginia Chapter, 1601 2nd Avenue, Charleston, WV 25387.