Elmer Leon Saul

LCDR Elmer Leon Saul USN (RET) 87 was the sixth child born to Willie Dean Grantham and Andrew Mancil Saul in Salesville Texas the 4th of December, 1923. The Saul family soon moved to a farm in the Cousins Community near Plainview Texas and grew up during the depression. Leon went to Wayland College after high school graduation but interrupted his studies after World War Two erupted to enlist in the US Navy and served as a Corpsman from 1942 to 1946. While stationed at Corpus Christi he married his wife, Edith Shirey, March 18, 1944.After his discharge from the Navy he went back to college at Baylor, had two children, Ronald Leon and Janet Lanell and earned a BA in German and Education in 1948. Leon was called back into the service for his country during the Korean Conflict. He decided to make a career as an officer in the Navy. He had many different assignments and ships, including Commanding Officer of the USS Diachenko. He and Edith completed their family of five with Michael Shirey, Richard Boyd and Katherine Allene. While stationed in Alameda California he retired on June 1, 1968 as a Lieutenant Commander.Leon moved his family to Azle Texas after he retired and worked as a teacher and salesman. He decided to go to TCU. After learning Portuguese and making two research trips to Brazil he was awarded a MA in Latin American History in 1972. He mover to Grass Valley California to teach history at a local college but ended up as personnel manager for a major lumber corporation in the area.He moved to Mineral Wells and lived on land that had been in his mother's family for over 100 years. He ranched, taught high school biology, and was involved in local politics. Leon was a Master of the Whitt Masonic Lodge, and was District Deputy in 1989 and Grand Tiler in 1990. He and Edith had been living in a retirement community in Arlington Texas since 1999, Leon was always learning new skills on his computer, editing several news-letters and keeping up with his growing family, and he is also a member of Salesville Baptist Church.He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Doyle, Leroy and Clyde, Sisters Reba Hanna and Arlene Snow. He is survived by his wife, 5 children, and grandchildren Christopher Massey, Ryan Saul, Benjamin Saul, Alexander Saul, Margaret Reinhardt, Emily Nichols, Matthew Saul and 4 great grand children.The service will be at 2:00PM Tuesday the 21st of June at Salesville Baptist Church with burial following at Salesville Cemetery with full Military Honors.