Leonard D. Theus

Leonard D. Theus, 81 passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at Orlando Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Mr. Theus was born March 12, 1924 in Greenville, Mississippi to the late James Edward Theus and Loulie Meyers Theus. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mattie Blake Theus Nichols and Millie Theus Smith. He moved with his parents and sisters to Vicksburg, MS in 1932. In 1941, he graduated from Carr Central High School with honors and President of the Student Body. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army, later becoming the Airforce. In 1950, he was recalled to serve in the Korean War. He married his childhood sweetheart, Gladys Holliday in 1951 and moved to Chicago, Illinois where he became a Test Engineer for Underwriters Laboratories. While attending Mississippi State University, Leonard was a member of Lamba Chi Alpha Fraternity. In 1954, he graduated from MSU earning a degree in Electrical Engineering. In the summer of 1958, Leonard and his family moved to Orlando, Florida where he accepted a position with the Martin Marietta Company. The Pershing Missile and the Patriot Missile were two of his projects. He retired from Martin in 1988 as Senior Group Engineer. Leonard loved music and fine arts. He played both the clarinet and saxophone in his high school band, and later with the Boone High Community Band. He loved to paint with oils. His passion was researching the genealogy of his family tree. He was proud that his ancestors were members of the Huguenot Society and Leonard served as President one year with the local chapter. Mr. Theus was a founding member of both Orangewood Presbyterian Church and Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Gladys Holliday Theus; daughter Holly Theus Storrs of Orlando; John Edward Theus of Sydney, FL; Frank Russell Theus of Dubai, UAE (wife Julie, and three grandsons-Micah, Nathan, and Joshua); and David Andrew Theus of Macclenny, FL (wife Sheila and two granddaughters-Vanessa and Sarah). He is also survived by a nephew, four nieces and many great nieces and great nephews. Newcomer Family Funeral Home, East Orlando, 895 S. Goldenrod Road is handling funeral arrangements. A viewing is scheduled for family and friends Sunday, January 8 from 2-6pm. The funeral service is Monday, January 9 at 10am at Newcomer Family Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to either The Bagley School of Engineering at Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS or to Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.