- Date Of Birth: January 30, 1919
- Date Of Death: April 7, 2015
- State: Indiana
Leo C. Broyles, age 96 of Fairmount, passed away after a brief illness. He was born and raised on a farm in Delaware County. He moved with his parents to Fairmount in 1924 and was a lifelong resident.
He was a student of electrical and mechanical devices while growing up. He graduated Fairmount High School in 1937 and went on ti work at Owens Illinois glass factory in Gas City where he worked alongside his father, Charlie.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1941, where he served a variety of functions. As a NCO he was a member of the cadre that formed the noted Fourth Armored Division. Bivouacking in -20 degree temperatures was a lingering memory of Pine Camp, N.Y. When the Fourth was sent to Europe, he was reassigned for a time to a replacement depot in Penn. Where he met his future wife, Helen. He was then transferred to Fort Knox, Ky. where as a First Lieutenant he was a rifle instructor, taught classes in booby-trap avoidance and was assigned to the Equipment Review Board. He was qualified as a tank unit commander and trained as a maintenance office for tracked vehicles. His overseas assignment as a Captain was commanding a maintenance company for the 536th Amphibious Tractor Battalion on Okinawa.
He married Helen after the war and they returned to Fairmount. He continued work at the Owens Illinois glass factory and retired from there after forty-three years. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a major. He built his own house with only the help of Bob Zike, a local carpenter. He enjoyed planting trees, especially oak. He stayed busy and worked hard. He built things to last. He will be missed deeply by his family. In addition to his wife, Helen, he is survived by his three sons, Charles, James and David Broyles.
