Leath Jr., Oscar Otto   	 

Oscar Otto Leath Jr. was born November 16, 1927, in the Elderville 
Community of Rusk County, to Oscar O. Leath Sr. and Clella Adams 
Leath, both were members of pioneer families. He went home to be 
with his Lord on June 14, 2007.

Oscar was a 1947 graduated of Pine Tree High School where he was on 
the football team for several years. He attended Kilgore Junior 
College for two years after he returned from Korea. He served in the 
United States Air Force as an air policeman during the Korean 
Conflict from 1950-1954 and obtained the rank of staff sergeant. He 
served in Korea during the last months of his service.

He married Madelyn Catherine Young in 1951 at the Tabernacle Baptist 
Church in Pickton, Texas. He was stationed at Brooks Air Force Base 
in San Antonio, Texas at the time.

He enjoyed many interests including hunting, fishing, golfing and 
traveling. He also found time to volunteer as a little league coach 
and assisted with the leadership of a Scout Troup.

He was a former member of Greggton First Baptist Church where he 
enjoyed the Sunday school class of his friend, Grady L. Coates. Under 
the leadership of Mr. Coates, all of his class eventually became 
deacons. He became a deacon under the leadership of his pastor and 
friend, James Dixon. While there, he served as Sunday school 
superintendent, chairman of building and grounds and teacher for both 
adults and junior high boys. Dr. Rick Webb was one of those junior 
high boys. He is currently a member of Oakland Heights Baptist Church, 
where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher of men's classes 
and chairman of buildings and grounds. He and Madelyn feel blessed to 
have two church families and to have been able to enjoy the fellowship 
of both churches.

Oscar retired after 45 years with the motor transport department of 
Union Pacific Railroad. He started as part time at the age of 16 with 
Texas & Pacific Railroad, which later sold to Missouri Pacific and 
finally sold to Union Pacific. He also served as a board member and 
then the president of the board of the Texas & Pacific Federal Credit 
Union for many years and was instrumental in helping to acquire the 
land for the new office building on Eastman Road.

He was preceded in death by his son, David Alan Leath in 2006; his 
parents; paternal grandparents, Haywood and Georgia Christian Leath; 
and maternal grandparents, Samuel and Daisy Mae Gibson Adams formerly 
of Rusk County.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Madelyn Young Leath; daughter, 
Karen Anne Leath Sewell and husband, Gene A. Sewell; grandson, Samuel 
Alan Sewell of Richardson; granddaughter, Chelsea Katherine Leath 
Brewer and husband, Corporal William Bryant Brewer; and great-grandson, 
Brannon Benjamin. Corporal Brewer is currently in Iraq. He is also 
survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Mary Jo Leath of 
Longview; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Johnnie 
Henderson of Forney; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and 
Patty Young of Mount Vernon; and a number of nephews and nieces and 
their children.

Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. today, June 16, 2007, at Oakland 
Heights Baptist Church, with his nephew, the Rev. Johnnie Henderson, Dr. 
Rick Webb and Pastor Tom Roberson officiating, under the direction of 
Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Burial will follow in Rosweood Park.

Honorary guests will be deacons and their wives from both Greggton First 
Baptist Church and Oakland Heights Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Dr. Mike Leath, Rick Leath, the Rev. 
Johnnie Henderson Jr., Dayne Young, Bob Morris and Bruce Huffman.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to 
the American Cancer Society, Highway 80 Rescue Mission or the charity 
of your choice.

A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 6/16/2007.