Leon Musgrove passed away in his home in Palm Desert, California on April 30th, 2013.
Leon was born in Patterson, CA on Sept. 22, 1933, to parents Clarence and Maude Musgrove. Agriculture was the main source of the economy then and Leon recalled fond memories of riding tractors and eating all the grapes, apricots, peaches and walnuts to his hearts content.
Leon’s family moved to Niles, CA, when he was 10 years old, to help the older son, John, run a tire shop and gas station, where Leon helped out all through his high school years.
After graduation in 1951, Leon left to serve in the USAF as a crew member on B29 aircraft and flew over 40 missions in the Korean War, commencing his lifelong passion to flying. In 1955, Leon enrolled at the college of San Mateo and earned his way working many different jobs in and around the S.F Bay area from crop dusting to flight instructor, working the salt piles of Newark, CA, and as a weather observer at the Hayward Airport.
In 1959 Leon joined Hawaiian Airlines. Due to a furlough in 1960 he went to New Zealand, where he met and married the love of his life, Barbara. In 1962 the airline company brought them to Hawaii.
More job furloughs brought Leon experience flying for Hawaii Air Tour Services and controlling traffic for the FAA at both the Maui and Honolulu towers. A final recall in 1965 with HAL happily fulfilled Leon’s dreams of flying until he retired at the end of 1990.
After retirement the family moved to Whidbey Island where they made wonderful new friends and continued the lifestyle they had since Hawaii, playing tennis and golf, flying friends around in small aircraft, growing beautiful orchards, vegetable and flower gardens and teaching their grandkids how to drive tractors.
Leon was a member of the South Whidbey Lions Assoc. and volunteered with the Whidbey Island Garden Tour in their early years.
Leon leaves behind his loving wife Barbara of 51 years, daughters Susan Tiare Rochette of California, Leslie Malia steeb, (Curt), grandsons, Julian and Joseph and granddaughter Willa of Redmond, WA. A sister Ada Louise Duarte of San Jose, CA and niece Jeannie Wing, nephews, Guy Duarte and Ron, Michael and Stanley Musgrove. Brother-in-law Michael Pidding, (Nora). He was proceeded in death by his brother John William Musgrove. A memoral will be held in Mill Creek WA at a later date.
