Catherine Sloop Leonard

Catherine Sloop Leonard, 82, of Welcome, passed away at her home. The funeral service will be held at noon Saturday at Beulah United Church of Christ where she was a member. The Rev. Benn Fleming will conduct the service, and burial will follow in the church cemetery. Mrs. Leonard was born Oct. 9, 1925, in Cabarrus County to Robert Lee Sloop and Ivey Smith Sloop. She was retired from Welcome Elementary School where she taught first grade for 43 years. Mrs. Leonard was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College, was a member of her church choir, and taught Sunday school for many decades. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Leonard, and a brother, Walter Sloop. Surviving are two sons, Jim Leonard and his wife, Peggy, of New Holland, Pa., and Ted Leonard and his wife, Rhonda, of Smith Mountain Lake, Va.; two daughters, Beth Edwards and her husband, Gary, of Monroe, and Judy Greeson and her husband, Bill, of Mint Hill; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bruce and Betty Regan of Welcome, and a sister-in-law, Margaret Sloop. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Jennifer and Dade VanDerWerf, Jill and Michael Shoffner, Dwayne Leonard, Nathan and Michelle Edwards, Matt Leonard, Krystal and Matt LaBell, Afton Leonard, and Ali and Issac McAdams; and six great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until noon prior to the service Saturday at Beulah United Church of Christ fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to Beulah United Church of Christ, 2828 Arnold Road, Lexington, NC 27295.