Obituary of Dwight W. Leopold

Coffeyville - Dwight W. Leopold, 88, of Coffeyville, passed away Tuesday November 13, 2012 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He was born on December 18, 1923 to Dr. V.A and Mildred (Burney) Leopold in Kirksville, MO. Dwight grew up and attended schools in Garden City, KS, where he graduated high school in 1941. While Dwight was growing up he worked for his dad who owned the Leopold Hospital in Garden City. After high school he continued his education at the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO. In 1943 he joined the Air Force; he served 40 years in the Air Force where he retired as a Major in 1983. On 1944 he married Hazel Biehn in Enid, OK. During their marriage they moved to various places, due to him serving in the military. In 1946 Dwight attended Kansas State University until 1947 when he went on to Kansas City Oesteopathic Medical School. In 1948 they opened up a bowling alley in North Kansas City, MO, shortly after that in 1952 they opened a motel in Hutchinson, KS. In 1963 they opened up a chain of five Gibson Discount stores in Coffeyville, Independence and Bartlesville, OK. They later expanded Gibson Discount stores in Cherokee and Storm Lake Iowa. Dwight was a member of the Coffeyville Municipal Band where he played the drums, he was also a part of the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. He loved playing tennis and repairing clocks. He is survived by his wife Hazel Leopold of the home; one brother, Dick Leopold and wife Lil of Bartlesville, OK; three granddaughters, Kitten Leopold (Strahan) of Texas City, TX, Heather Leopold of Katy, TX, Allison Leopold of Houston, TX; five nieces, one nephew and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, and one son Kent W. Leopold who preceded him in death February 3, 1993. A private memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday November 17, 2012 at Valley View Cemetery at Garden City, KS. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University; contributions may be left at the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.