July 2, 1930 – June 1, 2019
Our father, Mr. Leland P. English, (Lee), departed this earthly life peacefully on June 1, 2019, at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah.
Lee was born on July 2, 1930, in Heber, in Wasatch, Utah, the seventh of 10 children to Charles Luaine English and Gertrude Louise English. He married Jeanette Merlene Stanley on July 27, 1963, in Santa Monica, California.
He was raised in modest surroundings in Sandy, Utah, graduating from Jordan High School in 1948. He entered the Army in 1951 during the time of the Korean War. He was a decorated veteran, serving his country throughout the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in 1953.
Lee was originally interested in pursuing an agricultural degree though changed his mind to engineering after becoming interested in the logistics of agriculture. He went on to become a highly educated aeronautics engineer, initially graduating from the Northrop Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in aircraft maintenance engineering in 1960 and moving forward to being responsible for testing the major engines of the space shuttle.
Lee was a man of the utmost integrity, always willing to help a neighbor in need. He has traveled the world, visiting several different countries to include Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Canada.
Lee is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jeanette English, Toquerville, Utah; his children and their spouses: Daryl and Sherry English, Jacksonville, Florida; Joe and Venera English, Auburn, Washington; Diane and Michael Murray, Slidell, Louisiana; Lee and Rhonda English, Picayune Mississippi; and his 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings: Afton, Genevieve, Vernon, Lysle, Marjorie, Thomas, Phillip, Wilma and Charlie.
The family would like to thank the doctors and medical staff at the Southern Utah Veterans Home and the Dixie Regional Medical Center, the staff at the Cremation Center of Southern Utah, friends and family for the love and caring shown to Lee during this time.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the veterans home at Southern Utah Veterans Home, 160 N. 200 East, Ivins, UT 84738.
We will be providing a very modest ceremony for immediate family only, per Lee’s wishes, on June 5 at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the Toquerville Cemetery in Toquerville, Utah.
Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home, 435-986-2085.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes at Serenity Funeral Home online.