Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
1945 - 2013 (67 years)| Name | Leonard Charles BARTLETTE [2, 3, 4, 5] | |
| Suffix | Sr. | |
| Birth | 24 Dec 1945 | |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | of Sumter, South Carolina 1130 Craig Road, Sumter, South Carolina Leonard C. Bartlette Leonard Charles Bartlette, 67, husband of Easter Timmons Bartlette, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at his home. Born Dec. 24, 1945, he was a son of the late Jessie and Cora Pack Bartlette. He was a member of Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church. He retired from the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam War veteran. He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart among many other awards and medals. Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Chambers and Luke Bartlette, both of Sumter; three daughters, Susan Sauls (Danny) of Aiken, and Lynn Hendershot and Kim Edwards (Mike), both of Sumter; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Beth Auld (Terry); an aunt, Annette Griffin; and a special niece, Paisley Timmons. He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Belle and David Timmons. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Bobby Driggers, Donnie Hearrell and Bill Tschorn officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held in Sumter Cemetery. Pallbearers will be C.W. Boykin, Danny Sauls, Joey Timmons, Jim Austin, David Marshall and Glenn McLeod. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Mayes DuBose, Mayor Joe McElveen, Charles Alexander and Ed Gause. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. Posted in Obituaries on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Native remembered as decorated veteran, loving family man Leonard Bartlette holds his newborn great-granddaughter Addison Scott just a few months before his death. Bartlette was a devoted grandfather with 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. By BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Leonard Bartlette's family remembers him as being "full of life" prior to the life-altering injuries he sustained fighting in Vietnam and for his determination in the face of his wounds and afflictions to his dying day. By the time he passed away Oct. 5 at the age of 67, Bartlette had received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, with higher honors as a husband, father and great-grandfather. Some who knew him thought he deserved even more recognition for his sacrifice. "I think he should have won the Medal of Honor, and I know a lot of other officials in South Carolina felt the same way," said Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen, who remembers Bartlette buying motorcycles from his father when they were younger. Bartlette was a young man when he followed his father into the Army. He was deployed to South Vietnam with an artillery unit and stationed at an air base outside Saigon when the base was nearly overrun by Viet Cong forces. After the men of his unit escaped to safety, Bartlette manned a .50-caliber machine gun alone, holding off the enemy forces until he was struck by a mortar round. The wounded vet took shrapnel to two-thirds of his body, suffered burns and lost an eye. He was airlifted to a field hospital and spent a year recovering in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. For Bartlette's nephew Jim Dyson, who was 9 at the time of his uncle's injuries, memories of that time are tied together with the rising anti-war movement and the aftermath of Martin Luther King's assassination. His mother visited her brother in the Washington hospital and described seeing burnt-out cars and having to drive around masses of protestors. It was difficult for Dyson to accept the horrific injuries to the man he knew as such a vibrant individual. "He was a constant source of energy, like a power plant," Dyson said. "Because he was only 14 years older than me, I always looked at him like he was a big brother." Bartlette would spend the next five years moving in and out of hospitals for treatment. In the meantime, he lived with his parents in Cherryvale and took up his own "rehab" fishing on the lake behind the house. In time, he also took up bowling. "I saw this guy win bowling trophies with one eye, on an arm he almost lost," Dyson said. For the last 31 years, Bartlette was married to his childhood friend Easter, who was introduced to him by Bartlette's cousin during his first stay in Sumter. "I've known him since I was 13," Easter Bartlette said. "His dad was in the service, so they moved around a lot." When they met again as adults years later, she remembered her initial impression of the young future soldier. "That man was so good-looking," she said. "I thought he was the best-looking thing walking." Easter Bartlette brought into the marriage four children from a previous relationship: David, Susan, Lynn and Kimberly. The couple later adopted a child they fostered, Luke. They went on to have 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, the youngest of which Bartlette held in his arms as a newborn just months before his death. "I was 9 years old when I met him, and I knew right away he was special," said daughter Lynn Hendershot. "He just had that warmth and kindness. He didn't treat me like a stepchild. Never even said the word." The children spent their childhood with Bartlette in the outdoors, fishing and camping. He later became a devoted grandfather, cracking jokes, telling stories and occasionally charging the kids a quarter to remove his glass eye. "He raised us like we were boys," said daughter Kim Edwards. "He always told us there was no limit to what he could do." Once, when he got a new glass eye, he put his old one on a necklace and gave it to his wife, telling her he'd "always have my eye on you." "He loved young folks, and as he got older, he just became a magnet for kids," Dyson said. Despite the medals he was awarded for his heroism, Bartlette never talked very much about his wartime experiences. "He kept them in a shoe box," Easter Bartlette said of the medals. "He didn't want to display them or talk about them." In the years he knew him after he came back from Vietnam, McElveen only recalls Bartlette telling the story of his injuries once. "I told him, 'Len, you're a hero,' and he said, 'I just did what I was supposed to do.'" The one time Bartlette's family heard him talk about his wartime experiences was during a previous Veterans Day event for members of Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church. "The tales he told me prove he was a hero," said Bartlette's pastor, Bobby Driggers. "He didn't get the recognition he deserved, but he went from being a soldier to protect us to being a soldier in God's army, and today he's getting the rewards he deserves." Nephew Dyson credits his wife and children with bringing Bartlette a lot of peace and happiness in his final years. "His faith increased too," he said. "I think he blamed God for a long time for what happened, but he changed these last few years. He grew stronger and deeper in his faith, and I think it changed the way people looked at him." For the final five years of his life, Bartlette waged a long battle with stomach cancer and lingering complications from his war wounds. He passed away in a full house, his family said, "cracking jokes to the end." "He finished well," Dyson said. "That should be our goal too." Posted in Local news, News on Monday, November 11, 2013 [2, 4, 5] | |
| HIST | of Sumter, South Carolina 1130 Craig Road, Sumter, South Carolina Leonard C. Bartlette Leonard Charles Bartlette, 67, husband of Easter Timmons Bartlette, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at his home. Born Dec. 24, 1945, he was a son of the late Jessie and Cora Pack Bartlette. He was a member of Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church. He retired from the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam War veteran. He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart among many other awards and medals. Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Chambers and Luke Bartlette, both of Sumter; three daughters, Susan Sauls (Danny) of Aiken, and Lynn Hendershot and Kim Edwards (Mike), both of Sumter; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Beth Auld (Terry); an aunt, Annette Griffin; and a special niece, Paisley Timmons. He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Belle and David Timmons. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Bobby Driggers, Donnie Hearrell and Bill Tschorn officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held in Sumter Cemetery. Pallbearers will be C.W. Boykin, Danny Sauls, Joey Timmons, Jim Austin, David Marshall and Glenn McLeod. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Mayes DuBose, Mayor Joe McElveen, Charles Alexander and Ed Gause. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. Posted in Obituaries on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Native remembered as decorated veteran, loving family man Leonard Bartlette holds his newborn great-granddaughter Addison Scott just a few months before his death. Bartlette was a devoted grandfather with 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. By BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Leonard Bartlette's family remembers him as being "full of life" prior to the life-altering injuries he sustained fighting in Vietnam and for his determination in the face of his wounds and afflictions to his dying day. By the time he passed away Oct. 5 at the age of 67, Bartlette had received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, with higher honors as a husband, father and great-grandfather. Some who knew him thought he deserved even more recognition for his sacrifice. "I think he should have won the Medal of Honor, and I know a lot of other officials in South Carolina felt the same way," said Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen, who remembers Bartlette buying motorcycles from his father when they were younger. Bartlette was a young man when he followed his father into the Army. He was deployed to South Vietnam with an artillery unit and stationed at an air base outside Saigon when the base was nearly overrun by Viet Cong forces. After the men of his unit escaped to safety, Bartlette manned a .50-caliber machine gun alone, holding off the enemy forces until he was struck by a mortar round. The wounded vet took shrapnel to two-thirds of his body, suffered burns and lost an eye. He was airlifted to a field hospital and spent a year recovering in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. For Bartlette's nephew Jim Dyson, who was 9 at the time of his uncle's injuries, memories of that time are tied together with the rising anti-war movement and the aftermath of Martin Luther King's assassination. His mother visited her brother in the Washington hospital and described seeing burnt-out cars and having to drive around masses of protestors. It was difficult for Dyson to accept the horrific injuries to the man he knew as such a vibrant individual. "He was a constant source of energy, like a power plant," Dyson said. "Because he was only 14 years older than me, I always looked at him like he was a big brother." Bartlette would spend the next five years moving in and out of hospitals for treatment. In the meantime, he lived with his parents in Cherryvale and took up his own "rehab" fishing on the lake behind the house. In time, he also took up bowling. "I saw this guy win bowling trophies with one eye, on an arm he almost lost," Dyson said. For the last 31 years, Bartlette was married to his childhood friend Easter, who was introduced to him by Bartlette's cousin during his first stay in Sumter. "I've known him since I was 13," Easter Bartlette said. "His dad was in the service, so they moved around a lot." When they met again as adults years later, she remembered her initial impression of the young future soldier. "That man was so good-looking," she said. "I thought he was the best-looking thing walking." Easter Bartlette brought into the marriage four children from a previous relationship: David, Susan, Lynn and Kimberly. The couple later adopted a child they fostered, Luke. They went on to have 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, the youngest of which Bartlette held in his arms as a newborn just months before his death. "I was 9 years old when I met him, and I knew right away he was special," said daughter Lynn Hendershot. "He just had that warmth and kindness. He didn't treat me like a stepchild. Never even said the word." The children spent their childhood with Bartlette in the outdoors, fishing and camping. He later became a devoted grandfather, cracking jokes, telling stories and occasionally charging the kids a quarter to remove his glass eye. "He raised us like we were boys," said daughter Kim Edwards. "He always told us there was no limit to what he could do." Once, when he got a new glass eye, he put his old one on a necklace and gave it to his wife, telling her he'd "always have my eye on you." "He loved young folks, and as he got older, he just became a magnet for kids," Dyson said. Despite the medals he was awarded for his heroism, Bartlette never talked very much about his wartime experiences. "He kept them in a shoe box," Easter Bartlette said of the medals. "He didn't want to display them or talk about them." In the years he knew him after he came back from Vietnam, McElveen only recalls Bartlette telling the story of his injuries once. "I told him, 'Len, you're a hero,' and he said, 'I just did what I was supposed to do.'" The one time Bartlette's family heard him talk about his wartime experiences was during a previous Veterans Day event for members of Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church. "The tales he told me prove he was a hero," said Bartlette's pastor, Bobby Driggers. "He didn't get the recognition he deserved, but he went from being a soldier to protect us to being a soldier in God's army, and today he's getting the rewards he deserves." Nephew Dyson credits his wife and children with bringing Bartlette a lot of peace and happiness in his final years. "His faith increased too," he said. "I think he blamed God for a long time for what happened, but he changed these last few years. He grew stronger and deeper in his faith, and I think it changed the way people looked at him." For the final five years of his life, Bartlette waged a long battle with stomach cancer and lingering complications from his war wounds. He passed away in a full house, his family said, "cracking jokes to the end." "He finished well," Dyson said. "That should be our goal too." Posted in Local news, News on Monday, November 11, 2013 | |
| MILI | He retired from the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam War veteran. He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart among many other awards and medals. [4] | |
| MILI | He retired from the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam War veteran. He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart among many other awards and medals. | |
| _UID | 4177613A20FA4406BDFFD7AD86C3BAE5DF6B | |
| _UID | 4177613A20FA4406BDFFD7AD86C3BAE5DF6B | |
| Death | 5 Oct 2013 | at his home  |
| Burial | 9 Oct 2013 | Sumter Cemetery, 700 W. Oakland Avenue, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina [4] |
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| Person ID | I272860 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 24 Jul 2024 | |
| Father | Jessie C. “J.C.” BARTLETTE d. Bef 24 Nov 2011 | |
| Mother | Cora Lee PACK d. Bef 24 Nov 2011 | |
| Marriage | 13 Jul 1942 | Sumter County, South Carolina [6] |
| _UID | 0AC254D2EE7647B0B24D80FBA1BD2FAAFEC5 | |
| _UID | 0AC254D2EE7647B0B24D80FBA1BD2FAAFEC5 | |
| Family ID | F75348 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 | Easter TIMMONS | |||||||||||
| _UID | 9623036CE9BE4D8C8A35A3E5143A5B039BDC | |||||||||||
| _UID | 9623036CE9BE4D8C8A35A3E5143A5B039BDC | |||||||||||
| Children |
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| Family ID | F193501 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||||||||
| Last Modified | 13 Oct 2013 | |||||||||||
| Family 2 | Living | |||||
| Children |
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| Family ID | F92067 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||
| Last Modified | 24 Jul 2024 | |||||
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