Leon Alderman

Memorial services: Friday, April 17, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Broadus.

Interment: Valley View Cemetery.

Leon Alderman was born the second son of Leon and Olive (Craft) Alderman in Ranch Creek, Mt. On May 16, 1934. In 1939 the family moved to a ranch at Epsie where he attended Two Tree school until high school in Broadus where he graduated in 1951. He worked various jobs for a couple of years before he and his buddy, Walter Ferguson, joined the Marines. He was stationed in Hawaii for 17 months and then the South Pacific. After his time in the service he attended Northrop Institute of Technology and graduated with honors as an Aeronautical Engineer. Rockwell International employed him for 31 years. Leon worked on the Saturn rocket program, paving the way for manned space flight. He was instrumental in the designing and testing of the B1 bomber. He worked on several other projects, some of which were top secret and he never told of them. He married Jane Peterson December 1956 in California.

He married Darlene Green on December 16 1990. They lived in Lancaster, Ca. and after retiring they owned and operated the AV Dry Cleaners. In 2005 they sold the cleaners and moved to Charlotte, NC where Leon passed on April 6, 2009.They spent many days doing genealogy and traveling. Leons family was a very important part of his life. The Alderman family reunion was an annual highlight. Although he had no children of his own he took all of the nieces and nephews as his. The past few years he became close to Gabriel and Grace while caring for them. He also enjoyed the time he was able to spend with Blake and Brooke.Leon (Lee) was a member of Grace Crossing Church in Charlotte with Darlene.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Charles and Lloyd. He is survived by his wife, Darlene, two brothers, Gerald of Broadus, Donnie of Berthoud, Colorado, three sisters, Hazel Shumaker and Gladys Alderman of Miles City, Phyllis Wilson of Broadus, Mt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.