~ IN MEMORY ~
USAF veteran, SO/NWA Capt. Leon Boyd Newman Sr.
November 18, 1938 ~ August 9, 2025
Leon B Newman Sr., age 86, passed away peacefully
in his sleep on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Captain Newman began his commercial flying career
06-20-1966 and retired with Northwest Airlines.
He is survived by his wife Linda, and by his five children and their
families. Services will be conducted
August 17 in Pickens, South Carolina …please details below.
PCN memorial site
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/pickens-sc/leon-newman-12482621
OBITUARY
Leon Boyd Newman Sr.
IN THE CARE OF Dillard Memorial Funeral Home &
Hillcrest Memorial Park
Sunset SC - Leon B Newman Sr., age 86, passed away
peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Leon was born in Anderson, South Carolina, on
November 18, 1938, to the late Franklin Burrell Newman and Laura Newman
Stevenson. He attended Daniel High School, graduating a year early before
matriculating to Clemson College, where he earned a Civil Engineering degree
and competed in track and field. As a cornerstone member of the “Tig
Thinclads,” Leon held the South Carolina record in the mile for a number of
years.
After graduation, Leon followed in his father’s
footsteps into aviation. He joined the United States Air Force, flying in
excess of 400 sorties during his two tours in the skies of Vietnam. The
pinnacle of his Air Force career came as Captain of the Boeing B-52
Stratofortress, his hands literally guiding the tip of the spear of America’s
nuclear arsenal during the height of the Cold War. After his military tenure,
Leon went into commercial aviation, racking up tens of thousands of hours of
time while safely “flying the line” for over three decades, ultimately retiring
as a Senior Check Airman on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 for Northwest Airlines.
Leon had an open and generous heart and was a
friend to many. When not plying the skies, and well into retirement, one of his
favorite daily rituals was breakfast at The Village Inn and the comradery and
lifelong friendships of the “Table of Knowledge.”
Having traveled the world over, Leon’s favorite
place was Pickens. He was most content outside working on his farm, running
cattle, mending fences, bailing hay, planting trees and flowers, driving his
old, run down trucks and tractors, or cutting a load of firewood. His love of
this place continued as later in life he transferred hundreds of acres of
property into conservation easements here in northern Pickens County, a legacy
that will continue for all, forever.
Leon is survived by his wife of forty-two years,
Linda Gravely Newman; five children: Boyd Newman (Nikki), Brownie Newman
(Beth), Laura Prichard (Kevin), Allison Aiken (Tim), and Ansley Cudd (David);
ten grandchildren: Lauren, Nathan, Sarah Beth, Beau, Allie, Jackson, Tess,
Elliot, Katherine, and Robert; and five great grandchildren. Leon was
predeceased by his younger brother, Quincy.
The family would like to say a special thank you
to Teresa and Manna Rehab for their special care of Leon since he became sick.
Funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 PM, on
Sunday August 17, 2025, in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home.
The family will receive those in attendance
following the service in the chapel.
A private entombment will take place at Hillcrest
Memorial Park.
Flowers are accepted or donation can be made to
Natural and Trust to celebrate Leon’s love of place at the following website: https://www.naturalandtrust.org/
Additionally, donations may be made to support the
local YMCA at pcymca.net
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