Leonard Willbanks

Leonard Charles Willbanks, 79, of Grandview, MO, passed away Friday, April 25, 2014. A visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday April 30th at Speaks Suburban Chapel. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 1st at the chapel. Burial will be at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, MO.
Leonard was born February 3, 1935 in Texas County, MO as one of five children to Joseph Lester and Mary Ellen (Souders) Willbanks. He received his GED before enlisting in the United State Air Force where he served with Headquarters, Tactical Air Command and First Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base Virginia before being transferred to Elmendorf Air Force Base and 10th Air Division in Alaska. After leaving the service he remained in Alaska where he became Service and Sales manager at Alaska Sales and Service before becoming President of Copper Freight Lines and then Executive Vice President of Ar-Dee Alaska Freight Lines during the Alaska Pipeline construction. Throughout his time in Alaska he was an avid sportsman and bush pilot with commercial, single and multi-engine land, and seaplane ratings. Moving to Osceola Iowa in 1978 he farmed and continued in transportation until 1982, when he relocated to the Kansas City metropolitan area. There he started Willbanks Transportation where he was President and continued his career in truck and car sales with several local dealers. Leonard lived a full, exciting and fruitful life traveling all the 50 states and the world. He is loved and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by wife, Sonia (Stay) Willbanks of the home; daughter, Detra Hardy of Carrollton, VA; son, Donald Willbanks-Nichols of Hampton, VA; son, Dennis Willbanks-Nichols (Donna) of Carrollton, VA; daughter, Debbie Decker (Vernon Mason) of Smithfield, VA; son, David Willbanks-Nichols (Denee) of Chesapeake, VA; son, Todd Justin Willbanks (Dr. Lindsey Ky) of Greenwood, MO; sister, Lillie Burks, Mountain View, MO; brother, Robert Wilbanks of Brookston, IN; nine grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Willbanks and Mary Ellen (Souders) Willbanks; brother Alvin Wilbanks; sister, Dorothy Louella Willbanks; stepson Shawn Allen Stay; and grandson, Joshua Steven Nichols. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)