1920
Leon
2010
Leon Gillis
November 11, 1920 — October 31, 2010
Gillis, Leon Hilton, 89, of Pulaski, VA, died peacefully on Sunday, October 31, 2010. He was born in poverty in Telfair County, Georgia on November 11, 1920, to Bessie and Hilton Gillis.
He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Floyd E. Gillis, Franklin Gillis, James M. Gillis; sister, Flora Gillis.
He learned to overcome many hardships throughout his life. In his young adult life in Washington, D.C. where he worked for the government at the Pentagon; shortly thereafter he entered various businesses of his own. At age 41 he began the second stage of his life, by building a covered wagon (The Last Wagon West) he took his family from Virginia to California taking 294 days.
The horse drawn wagon was the first and last wagon to ever go from coast to coast. He exposed his children to commerce, industry, and points of interest all along the way. In 1962 he shipped the wagon to Europe by freighter and boarded the Queen Mary with his family, they traveled through France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and on to Moscow where their trip was highlighted in Life Magazine, which was an amazing feat in itself because it was during the Cold War.
Always champion of the underdog, he gave freely of his life and possessions, from Acupalco, to Daytona, to the New River, he spent many wonderful days in the sunshine which he loved. His story continues to fascinate people of all ages.
A book is expected to be released in 2011 commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Last Wagon West.
He is survived by former wife and mother of his children, Iyone Koland Gillis; his children, Lee Ann Olmos, Alan Gillis, Susie Pontone, and Janet Voss, all of Christiansburg, George Gillis, of Roanoke, VA, and Barbara Esposito, of San Jose, California, and Ann Judy Gillis, of Washington, D.C.; his wife and companion of 25 years, Eileen S. Gillis. He leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and a special nephew, Floyd Gillis.
The family will receive friends from 6p.m.-8p.m., Thursday, November 4, 2010 at the Horne Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Horne Funeral Home Chapel, Christiansburg, VA.
He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Floyd E. Gillis, Franklin Gillis, James M. Gillis; sister, Flora Gillis.
He learned to overcome many hardships throughout his life. In his young adult life in Washington, D.C. where he worked for the government at the Pentagon; shortly thereafter he entered various businesses of his own. At age 41 he began the second stage of his life, by building a covered wagon (The Last Wagon West) he took his family from Virginia to California taking 294 days.
The horse drawn wagon was the first and last wagon to ever go from coast to coast. He exposed his children to commerce, industry, and points of interest all along the way. In 1962 he shipped the wagon to Europe by freighter and boarded the Queen Mary with his family, they traveled through France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and on to Moscow where their trip was highlighted in Life Magazine, which was an amazing feat in itself because it was during the Cold War.
Always champion of the underdog, he gave freely of his life and possessions, from Acupalco, to Daytona, to the New River, he spent many wonderful days in the sunshine which he loved. His story continues to fascinate people of all ages.
A book is expected to be released in 2011 commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Last Wagon West.
He is survived by former wife and mother of his children, Iyone Koland Gillis; his children, Lee Ann Olmos, Alan Gillis, Susie Pontone, and Janet Voss, all of Christiansburg, George Gillis, of Roanoke, VA, and Barbara Esposito, of San Jose, California, and Ann Judy Gillis, of Washington, D.C.; his wife and companion of 25 years, Eileen S. Gillis. He leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and a special nephew, Floyd Gillis.
The family will receive friends from 6p.m.-8p.m., Thursday, November 4, 2010 at the Horne Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Horne Funeral Home Chapel, Christiansburg, VA.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leon Gillis, please visit our flower store.
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