Palestine High School Alumni Association

08 / 24 / 1920  –  01 / 21 / 1997

Services for Leo C. Gambrell, 76, of Palestine will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home with Dan Manuel officiating.  Burial will be at New Addition Cemetery.

Mr. Gambrell died Tuesday at Trinity Valley Medical Center.  He was born in Palestine on August 24, 1920 to the pioneer family of Bowen Welborn and Draple Scarborough Gambrell.  Mr. Gambrell graduated from Palestine High Schook, Nixon’s Business College and attended Sam Houston State Teachers College and the University of Colorado.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific.  He served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, the Marines and retired from the U.S. Air Force after 30 years of service, having served in all four branches of the military.

Mr. Gambrell worked as a clerk for Gray’s Drive In.  He was a member of Crockett Road Church of Christ and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He was preceded in death by a brother, Melvin B. Gambrell, Sr.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marion Gambrell of Palestine; son, Leo Gambrell II of Crestline, California; sister, Mrs. Bob (Wanda) Cross of Fort Worth; and two grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mel Gambrell, Howard Gambrell, Kenneth Gambrell, Jim Cross, Bob West and Brent Blackmon.

Condolence calls will be received from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.

Source:  Palestine Herald Press