“After high school, [Leo] joined the Air Force where he flew with the 523rd, the 175th, and the 457th Tactical Fighter Squads and the 152nd Fighter Interceptor Squad. A fighter pilot at heart, Leo was adventurous and was always looking for excitement. He went on to become an airline pilot, living in such places as Turkey, Germany and Indonesia. He was also a reserve police officer for the Grand Prairie Police Department and the Dallas County Constable’s Office, Precinct 6.” (1)
Source:(1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173785350/leo-joseph-canavan
Leo J. Canavan, Capt USAF, “Headed West on November 19, 2016.
Capt. Leo Joseph Canavan, Jr. passed away on November 19, 2016 at the age of 81.
Leo was born on September 2, 1935, in Elk City, Oklahoma. After high school, he joined the Air Force where he flew with the 523rd, the 175th, and the 457th Tactical Fighter Squads and the 152nd Fighter Interceptor Squad. A fighter pilot at heart, Leo was adventurous and was always looking for excitement. He went on to become an airline pilot, living in such places as Turkey, Germany and Indonesia. He was also a reserve police officer for the Grand Prairie Police Department and the Dallas County Constable’s Office, Precinct 6.
After smoking for over 65 years, Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer, although he would still argue that one had nothing to do with the other. He was a man with character like no other. He could always put a smile on some unsuspecting nurse’s face. When asked “How are you?”, his standard response was: “Better than most, the girls say.” If given the choice, Leo surely would have chosen to go out in a blaze of glory, flying an F-4, instead of peacefully passing away in a hospital bed. But, we all know that he was too good of a pilot for that to have ever happened.
Leo was known for his strong and distinctive voice. Whether you were hearing him over the airplane radio, the police radio or the telephone, you could always tell who was on the other end of the line. His family and friends were so blessed to have a husband, father, grandfather and friend like Leo and they will all miss him dearly. We were all thankful that Donald Trump won the presidential election, mainly because that allowed us to have 11 more days with him. If Hillary had won, he surely would have died of heart failure on election night.
Leo is survived by his loving wife, Logan Iin Canavan, his daughters, Susan Ellis and husband Velton Ellis, Shae McKean, Sissy Letchman and husband Chuck Letchman, and Jennifer Stephens and husband Joe Stephens. After having five girls, he was finally blessed with his only son, Curtis Ryan Canavan. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Rachel Mason, Sarah Beth Smith, Gavin McKean, Rachel McKean, Collin McKean, Sven Dysthe, Catherine Dysthe, Briana Wiegand, Morgan Wiegand, Cole Widener, Savannah Widener, Taylor Letchman, Charleigh Letchman, Olivia Letchman and Emma Claire Stephens. Finally, he is survived by two great grand-children, Taylor Smith and Ayden Smith. Leo was predeceased by his parents, Leo J. Canavan, Sr. and Nina Parsons, his sister, Sissy Johnston, and his daughter, Maria Canavan Broutin.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, promptly at 12:30 PM at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038. Immediately following the service, a celebration of his life will be held had at the Northampton Community Center, 6012 Root Road, Spring, Texas 77389.
In lieu of flowers, a college fund has been set up for his 14 year old son, Ryan Canavan c/o Jennifer Stephens, 3838 Oak Lawn Ave.,
