Leon Alexander's family

Edgar "Leon" Alexander

1954

In the Army

In the Army

Leon & Jeanne, 1962

Leon and Rusty

Wythe & Leona

Leon & Carolyn, ca 1982

Edgar "Leon" Alexander was born June 24, 1936 in Granger, Scotland County, Missouri. He married (1) Jeanne Raybourne Mildner March 2, 1962 at the Post Chapel, Fort Eustis, Virginia, daughter of Russell Mildner and Jean Waddell. He married (2) Mary Carolyn Barnette June 20, 1978 at the Post Chapel, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, daughter of Edmond Coyte Barnette and Virgie Lou Rash.

Leon, also called Alex, was a 1954 graduate of Keosauqua High School, Van Buren County, Iowa, where he was active in FFA, music and drama. He was class president and salutatorian.

He attended Iowa State College in Ames, then State University of Iowa in Iowa City. One summer he and several UI students worked as crew members on the Great Lakes cruise ship, Aquarama.

Leon received his bachelor of science degree from the State University of Iowa in 1959, where he sang in the University Chorus. He then joined the U.S. Army for three years. In 1960, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Eustis, Virginia, where he served as a social worker in the Mental Hygiene Clinic. In 1962, his Army discharge papers described him as 6' tall, 185 lbs, black hair, brown eyes, with type B blood.

For six years  he was a claim representative for State Farm Insurance in Newport News, Virginia. The family then moved to Richmond, Virginia where he earned a master of social work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971. He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army with the rank of 1st Lieutenant, and served as a social work officer in the Medical Service Corps. He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Ansbach, Germany; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Richardson, Alaska; and retired from Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Leon and Jeannie were divorced in 1975. He met Carolyn while he was stationed in Germany. She graduated from Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. and was an elementary school teacher for the Department of Defense.

Leon was promoted to the rank of Major Oct. 31, 1981, while stationed at Fort Leavenworth. In 1984, he earned a master of science degree in management from Alaska Pacific University. After retiring from the Army in 1988, he continued to work as a Clinical Supervisor/Clinical Director in the outpatient substance abuse Community Counseling Center at Fort Stewart for the Department of Defense.

He has always enjoyed being involved in the theater, playing chess and racquetball. Since moving to Georgia, he enjoys shrimping and has become a licensed amateur radio operator. Following his retirement in 2002, he and Carolyn toured the United States. He now volunteers with the American Red Cross.

Leon designed, and was self-contractor of the house in which he and Carolyn reside in Midway, Georgia. He has been president of the Community Lot Owners Association since its inception in 1994.

Children of Edgar Alexander and Jeanne Mildner are:

1. Russell Eugene Alexander who married Terri Lamont. They have a daughter, Hayleigh Laura Alexander.

2. Leona Jean Alexander who married Dean Evan Martin. They have a daughter, Alicia.

3. Wythe Gatan Alexander who married Kathrine Leigh Johnson. They have a daughter, Cassandra "Cassie" Leigh and son Eric Wythe.

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