Leonard Shanks (Veteran)

Leonard Leslie Shanks, age 77, of Vienna, passed away Sunday, July 4, 2010, in the Frene Valley Health Care Center, Owensville. He was born January 29, 1933, in Maries County, a son of Herman and Opal (Gillispie) Shanks. Mr. Shanks was united in marriage on November 13, 1957, at Vienna, to the former Miss Naomi Ruth Loughridge and to this union two sons were born. Mr. Shanks was a member of the Bethel Church of Christ, Vienna, was a lifelong dairy farmer in Maries County, and a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau. Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Shanks include: his wife, Naomi Shanks, of the home near Vienna; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dale and Donna Shanks, Vienna, and Dwayne and Sandra Shanks, Meta; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Lloyd and Arlene Shanks and Delbert and Pat Shanks, all of Vienna; one sister, Beulah Purdham, Vienna; five grandchildren, Christopher Shanks, Brandon Shanks, Laura Shanks, Ethan Shanks and Jamie Shanks, all of Vienna; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father on August 10, 1991, his mother on July 23, 2002, and one brother-in-law, Robert Purdham on August 7, 2000. Funeral services will be held for Mr. Shanks at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 9, 2010, in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with Bro. Rhys Thomas officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, July 8, 2010 and 10-11 a.m., Friday, July 9, 2010, all in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Interment with full military honors will be in the Bethel Cemetery near Dixon. Memorials are suggested to the Bethel Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be left at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com