Harold Edwin "Ed" Leahy

Harold Edwin “Ed” Leahy, 83, of Henderson, died at 12:07 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center. Ed was born on August 13, 1924 in Galesburg, the son of John Francis and Ruth Elizabeth Thorne Leahy. He married Betty Huffman on January 30, 1991 in Moline. Surviving Ed are: his wife, Betty of Henderson; 3 sons, Jim of London, England, Jeff of Venice Beach, CA, and Larry of Muncie, IN; a daughter, Janet Leahy-Gilmer of Fayetteville, AR; 4 brothers, Richard, Bill, Mike, and Danny, all of Galesburg; 2 sisters, Mary Vallero of Galesburg and Joannie Darneille of Springfield. Also surviving Ed are 5 grandchildren, Brenda, Sean, Shannon, Aaron, and Mairead. A daughter, Linda Campbell; a brother, Jim; and two sisters, Patricia Hedden and Jane Alters, preceded him in death. Ed graduated from Corpus Christi High School. Ed joined the Army Air Corp during WW II and became a pilot. He then served in the US Air Force as a pilot during the Korean Conflict. After his military service he worked the Federal Government as a contract negotiator at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama for 22 years, retiring in 1980. He was a past master of A.F. & A.M., Huntsville, AL, and was currently a member of A.F. & A.M. Alpha Lodge #155, Galesburg. He was a shriner and a shrine clown, known by the name Daddy Bananas. He visited many different shriner hospitals and truly enjoyed entertaining the children in the hospitals, while in Alabama. Ed was also a 32nd degree Master Mason. He was a member of Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285, Moose Lodge #880 and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Ed was an excellent landscape painter and had recently begun painting portraits. He was also a master carpenter and enjoyed making many different pieces of furniture for his family. He loved to sing and sang in a barbershop quartet, and also loved singing with his family. Ed also loved to play the organ. Ed loved to play golf everyday so long as his health permitted. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, with the Rev. Ernest Pizzamiglio, officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at Watson Funeral Home, with the rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg, with military rites conducted by Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285. Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s crippled children fund.