Leonard Dale Kerns, age 68 years, a resident of Valley Bend, WV was received into heaven Sunday morning, October 9, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family and under the care of West Virginia Caring. He had been in declining health although death was sudden and unexpected.
He was born Sunday, April 4, 1948 at Sully, WV a son of the late Nathaniel Wilson and Freda Marie Nelson Kerns. On July 3, 1971 at Mabie, WV he was married to the former Barbara “Jo” Edmond, who survives. Also surviving are one brother, Ralph Daniel Kerns and wife Mary Ann of Elkins; one brother in law, Bill Edmond; three sisters in law, Mikie Dumire and husband Chuck, Teri Cayton, and Sharyn Kerns; several nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his step father, Joseph Smith; and one brother, James Wilson “Jim” Kerns, Sr.
He attended the schools of Randolph County and was a graduate of Tygarts Valley High School with the Class of 1968. Leonard served his community by being a firefighter with the Tygart Valley Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Technician with the Valley Unit of the Randolph County Emergency Squad. He was a member of the Elkins Lodge # 116, I.O.O.F., the Aerie # 2344, Fraternal Order of Eagles, where he served as a past president, the Band of Brother’s, the Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation, was a board member of the Tyrand Cooperative Ministries, had served with the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Office of Emergency Management, had worked as a damage assessment coordinator for the American Red Cross in Randolph, Tucker and Barbour Counties and also taught CPR and First Aid. He was an employee of Labcraft until its closure. He was a member of the New Life Church at Beverly.
Leonard enjoyed life with his wife Barbara J. “Jo” and best friend “Missy” in their home of forty-five years in Valley Bend. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM, Thursday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home, Friday, October 14, 2016 at 10 AM. The Rev. Julie Dean will officiate and interment will follow at the Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons, WV.
