Edward Leo Boling AG1 USN RET

Leo was born in the rural township of East Walnut in Canadian County, Oklahoma on May 28, 1939. Leo passed at the age of 84 on June 30, 2023 at the Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood, WA. His parents were farmers Malvern Leo Boling and Dorothy Ruth (Powell) Boling. Leo was their first of seven children.

Leo graduated from East Walnut High School in 1957 and soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In the beginning of his 20 year navy career, Leo worked in administration or ran the ship post offices on 3 different aircraft carriers.

USS Hornet CV12 (now a museum in Alameda, CA)

USS Wright CC2

USS Intrepid CV11 (also a museum in Manhattan, New York)

USS Haleakala (AE-25 Nitro-class Ammunition Ship)

Later in his career, Leo learned to speak near-native Italian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. Leo also trained as a Navy Aerographer (weather analyst) and produced intelligence for Navy aviators and warships He held that rate until retiring in 1977.

Leo’s career put him in places all over the globe and far from his beginnings such as Yokosuka, Japan, Hong Kong, Subic Bay, Philippines, areas in the Mediterranean Sea, San Francisco, Bremerton, WA, Lankhurst, NJ, San Angelo, TX,  and Norfolk, VA. The place by which his family was most enriched was a 3-year stay at Sigonella, Sicily in Italy. Dad’s last station was at Boca Chica Naval Air Station located in Key West, FL.

On retirement, Leo came back to Hinton and soon became a rural route carrier for the area east of Hinton. He carried mail for 20 years.

Retirement didn’t slow him down nor dampen his love of travel. His feet would start to itch and he would grab a travel partner if he could and hit the road. However, he soon returned to his home in Hinton.

Leo was predeceased by his parents, his beloved sister and friend Rosie Lee (Boling) Willis and his dear brother Charlie Boling, as well as a Baby Brother Boling. Leo was heartbroken by the loss of his precious daughter, Kimi Lee (Boling) Stephenson to breast cancer in 2001. Leo also mourned the loss of his friend, companion, and the mother of his children, Edythe Anne (Ruhl) Boling in 2018. Leo’s lifelong friends Bob Erickson and Leon Bledsoe also preceded him.

Leo is survived by his brothers Wayne Boling and Donald Boling both of Hinton and Jerry Boling of North Oklahoma City. Leo’s beloved Aunt Roberta (Boling) Reeder is 92 years old and resides in Muskogee, OK. In mourning are his surviving children, Kevin Boling of Renton, WA and David Boling of Hinton. Leo’s grandchildren loved their Grandpa. Kimi’s children Kit Stephenson of Oklahoma City and Shana Stephenson of North Oklahoma City. Garret Boling and spouse Blair (Murphy) Boling (both Navy veterans) of Mount Vernon, WA.  Leo's youngest grandchild Jessica Boling also resides in Mount Vernon, WA. Morgan Boling of Burien, WA, and Craig Boling (Navy veteran) of Renton, WA. Leo knew and enjoyed his sweet great grand babies, Julian, Rosalina, Gideon, and Grace, all of Mount Vernon WA and Cragen in Oklahoma City.

Leo leaves behind or goes to meet a multitude of friends and family not  mentioned here but, each was precious to him and he would have a story or two to share about each and every one. He will be missed and fondly remembered.

We would like to express our appreciation to the professionals at the Josephine Caring Community, Memory Care Unit, Stanwood, WA.

Specials thanks to Clinical Case Manager Blair Murphy, LPN and Unit Nurse, Guiping Huang, RN.

Memorial donations may be made to the VFW at https://heroes.vfw.org/page/21776/donate/1?locale=en-US

 

Visitation will be held at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home, Saturday 9 AM- 9 PM, 7-22-2023 and Sunday 1 PM- 9 PM, 7-23-2023

 

Services:  Monday, July 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., Scott Baptist Church, Hinton, OK

Officiating:  Rev. Tom Cooksey

Burial:  Niles Cemetery, Hinton, OK

Services are under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, OK.

 

Condolences for the family may be sent to turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, turnerfh.net or on Facebook (Turner Funeral Homes).