Leland Laton

LELAND LATON

Vinton

Leland LeRoy "Lee" Laton, 91, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at the Vinton Lutheran Home following an extended illness. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton, with Pastor Zach Zajicek and Pastor John Karrick officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Military rites will be conducted by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 and United States Navy Honors. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left for the Geo G. Luckey American Legion Post.

Lee was born June 23, 1922, in Spencer, Iowa, to Vernon and Nellie B. (Bratton) Laton. Lee enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II just before his high school graduation. He received an honorary high school graduation certificate from the State of Iowa through the American Legion. Lee served in Naval Aviation with tours during World War II and the Korean conflict.

On Oct. 19, 1941, he was united in marriage to Doris Jane Summy in Cedar Rapids. Doris preceded Lee in death on Christmas Day 2012.

Lee is survived by his son, Richard "Rick" (Marsha) Laton of Princeton, Ill.; his daughters, Sandra (Larry) Driscol of Vinton and Kathryn (Randy) Olson of Washington; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and his sister-in-law, Betty Laton of Texas.

In addition to his wife, Doris, Lee was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Vernon Laton.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneral homes.com.