Arlene Elizabeth (Wilde) Leonard, born in 1927 in Coshocton, Ohio to Richard Wilde and Freda Emma (Reiss) Wilde, passed away at home Monday, in the arms of family and friends. Surviving her are sister, Thela Joyce (Lothair) Green of Hawaii and brother, Verlin Daniel Wilde of Kentucky as well as daughter, Susan (Tom) Ireland, sons, David (Debbie) Leonard and Daniel (Linda) Leonard and grandchildren, Joseph (Danielle) Leonard, Amanda (Adam) Bartz, Parker Ireland and Krista Leonard and great-grandchildren, Cameron Leonard, Jeremiah and Liam Bartz, all of Metro Denver, Colorado. Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Glenn Wilde of Washington, and Thomas (Webb) Wilbur Wilde of Coshocton, Ohio and sister, Mildred (Eddie) Winget of Columbus, Ohio.
Arlene, our beloved mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, and friend will be missed for her beauty, inside and out, her love of her family and the support she provided her family and friends. She took special interest in her grandson Parker who was born with the severe physically disabling birth defect, Spina Bifida.
Arlene taught kindergarten in Denver Public Schools, piano lessons and also taught school in Roscoe Village near Coshocton, Ohio. She was caregiver for her grandson, Parker, after her retirement from teaching. She had a special connection with him as he did with her.
She liked to attend the Evergreen Women's Connection at Mount Vernon Country Club every month, at times with her daughter, Sue. She loved to visit the mountains often with her long-time friend, Janet and eat at different restaurants each week along their travels. She loved her friends at Green Mountain Christian Church and enjoyed attending gospel music concerts, Sunday drives and reading.
Celebration of Her Life service for Arlene E. Leonard will be at Green Mountain Christian Church located at 10700 West Exposition Drive in Lakewood at 1:00PM, September 11, 2009.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Colorado March of Dimes in her name or Spina Bifida Association of Colorado in her name.