Leon Talley

LEESBURG, Va. -- After 12 years, Leon Burtle Talley, 87, lost his battle with cancer Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021.

Leon Talley was born to Willard and Della Mae Statler Talley July 15, 1933, in Lixville, Missouri, before growing up in Millersville and Jackson.

Leon volunteered for the U.S. Army in November 1952 to avoid the draft. He was on a ship that got diverted from Inchon to Yokohama, Japan, due to a cease fire in Korea in July 1953. Leon was assigned to a direct support unit in the Northern Island -- Hokkaido -- of Japan. It was there he met the love of his life, Fusako Otani. They were married, after a short courtship, at the American Embassy in Tokyo on Dec 9, 1955.

Over the course of 30 years in the Army, Leon and Fusako were assigned to many countries and states. Most notably, Leon had two tours in Korea up on the demilitarized zone (unaccompanied), two tours in Vietnam (unaccompanied), one tour in Okinawa and one tour in Germany (both accompanied). They lived in Hawaii, Colorado, Wisconsin, Virginia, Michigan, Washington State, California, Alabama (three tours) and Nebraska. After 14 years and eight months of service as an enlisted acquiring the rank of sergeant first class (E6), Leon spent the next 14 years, 10 months and six days as a warrant officer, acquiring the rank of chief warrant officer 4. His last tour was in San Jose, California, working out of the U.S. Army Tank/Automotive Command in Warren, Michigan, assigned to San Jose as the West Coast field officer, working on the startup production of the Bradly Fighting Vehicle. Leon retired from Fort Ord, California, in May 1982.

After retirement from the U.S. Army, Leon went to work for Kaiser Electronics as a senior logistics engineer. He worked for Kaiser Electronic (1982-1995) and Rockwell Collins (1995-2008) for 26 years. His final retirement from Rockwell Collins was due to his first cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 2015, Leon was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer No. 2). He battled his cancer the same way he battled war: Always moving and having a positive attitude.

Early in 2019, Leon's wife of 64 years fell ill. Fusako Talley passed away Aug. 1, 2019, just three days after Leon received word that his cancer was back for the third time. Due to the great support of family and friends, Leon was able to go through chemotherapy treatment again. Leon was beating the cancer and looking forward to golfing again, but in August 2020 he was told he had Stage 3 multiple myeloma.

Leon is survived by his brothers, Robert "Bob" (Shirley) Talley, Dean (Mary) Talley and Don Talley; two stepgrandchildren; nine nieces and nephews; and many cousins. Leon and his late wife, Fusako "June" Otani, were never blessed with children. Late in his life, Leon adopted Dora Tann as his stepdaughter.

Preceding Leon in death were his stepson, Narumi (Yukiko) Yanagiya, who died in March 2020; his parents, Willard and Della Mae Talley; his brother, Larry Talley; and sister-in-law, Lorene Talley.

Leon's wishes were to be buried next to his wife in Chitose, Japan. A military service is planned for Cape Girardeau at Ford and Sons Funeral Home and a memorial service at the Lion's Club of Japantown in San Jose.

National Funeral Home in Falls Church, Virginia, is in charge of arrangements.