LEONARD-FELTAR, Lillian Ruth

Messinger Mortuaries Indian School Moruary, Scottsdale, Arizona Lillian Ruth Leonard-Feltar was born and raised on farms in central Kansas. Of 1870's Mennonite immigrant heritage, (she had 74 first cousins), Lillian was a groundbreaking educator, recognized community servant, church worker, wife, mother, step-mother, friend and mentor. While working toward her B.A. in Education at Kansas State Teacher's College, (Emporia State University), Lillian began her career in a one-room rural school seven miles from Pawnee Rock KS. She taught first through eighth grades alone, with some pupils nearly her age. Lillian also cleaned the room, carried water inside from a windmill, stoked the Franklin stove in winter and monitored the privies. After earning her B.A. she taught in Great Bend KS and Cleveland OH before moving to Arizona in 1947 to begin her career with the Glendale Elementary School District. After completing her M.A. in Education at Arizona State Teacher's College, (ASU), in 1951, she became the first female principal in the GESD in 1959. Lillian was the first female, professional, district-level employee when named District Primary Coordinator in 1960. Her responsibilities included instituting GESD's first Head Start program. Lillian earned the Education Specialist Degree from ASU in 1969. In 1976 she became the district's first Director of Curriculum and thereafter served on the Arizona Department of Education's Textbook Adoption Committee. She retired from GESD after 36 ½ years, having a total teaching career of 45 ½ years. Two articles published in The Phoenix Gazette documented her career upon her retirement in 1983. Lillian completed 30 years as a member of the Glendale Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2007, serving as chairwoman several years. One year, after a hard financial struggle for the Army, she received its "Sally Award". She served as a Church Board Member and Sunday School teacher at South Phoenix, Sunnyslope and Orangewood Churches of the Nazarene for over 60 years. After retirement Lillian enjoyed travel in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the U.S. and Canada. Her last major trip was to Alaska with her son, which took them deep within the Arctic Circle to Point Barrow, the northernmost point in the U.S., 1,290 miles from the North Pole. Lillian Ruth Leonard-Feltar died on Friday, March 23, 2012 of congestive heart failure at age 93. She survived all three siblings, Arthur, Hannah, Watson, and three husbands, J P Mackey, G L Leonard and James Feltar. Lillian is survived by son Thomas Leonard, daughters Leona Howell, Bunny Eichenberger and Ruby Boyd, along with two first cousins, many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 29 at Orangewood Church of the Nazarene, 7510 N 27th Avenue, Phoenix 85051. Casual clothing is encouraged. Rather than flowers, Lillian's family sugests memorial donations be made to either or both non-profits: Hospice of the Valley , 1510 E Flower Street, Phoenix AZ 85014 (hov.org); Glendale Salvation Army, 6010 W Northern Avenue, Ste. 200, Glendale AZ 85301.