Kenneth Orval Leach

Kenneth Leach - January 14,1926 -August 26,2022

"Kenneth Orval Leach, fondly known to all as K.O., began his life in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1926, son of Martha Caroline Mask and Daniel Lemuel Leach and eldest sibling to Gerald, Margaret, and Lawrence. Almost a hundred years later, he could still recall vivid memories of his youth walking to school through cow pastures, climbing trees to dodge the bulls and working on the family farm. The Leaches migrated to Madera California in 1933 when he was 7 years old to seek lusher farmland.

Because Kenneth had taken a typing class, the Navy selected him to serve as Radioman aboard the USS Bristol to send and receive Morse code regarding the battle with Japan. He was very proud to be able to serve his country.

Upon returning from service, and with the help of his father, K.O. "bought dirt" and started farming the land. His brothers soon followed suit at adjoining farms. K.O. then set his mind to finding the next thing he would need most as a young farmer…a good wife.

He often recounted the moment he walked into church to see a dark-haired girl at the piano, and though, ”There she is, that's the one”. That woman was a young Bernice Ruth, who would become his loving wife of 75 years. Their marriage was a devotion, which yielded three children, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren. A bountiful harvest indeed!

K.O. and Bernice valued country life, raising their family on a dairy farm: milking cows, playing outside with the cousins next door, school, music and church on Sundays. KO was mechanically inclined and could often be found working on a vehicle out in his shop, fixing a tractor, irrigating, or feeding the horses.

He loved fishing and deer hunting on horseback in the High Sierras, and enjoyed taking the younger men in the family to show them the ropes of packing in the backcountry. Even in the valley, he could often be found with his nose in a cowboy book. Both his experience and love of reading shaped his amazing ability for telling (mostly) true tales of his many mountain adventures!

K.O. valued education for his son and daughters and set an expectation of college that echoed to his grandchildren and beyond. He actively participated in the raising of his grandchildren and could often be seen with one of the kids atop the tractor or horse with him, out in the shop or alongside him and Grandma Bernice for an after church meal.

After several decades of farming cotton to alfalfa, corn, dairy, almonds, walnuts and grapes, K.O. was honored as Madera County's 2015 Senior Farmer of the Year. In 2020, he was featured on the radio program “Hometown Heroes” and stories of his expansive life in his own words can still be heard on their website. (www.hometownheroes.com December 19, 2020 episode)

Kenneth lived his faith. Regularly helping others in need in quiet ways. When asked what he wanted his future grandchildren to know, he replied, “If they will trust in the Lord and call upon him, they will have a better life.”

Both the eldest and longest living of his siblings, K.O. reached 96 years old. He was preceded in death by his eldest child, Timothy Alan Leach and is survived by his beloved wife Bernice Leach, daughters Janette Lewis, Carol Earls (m. Rod Earls), and many cherished nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and church family.

A memorial service will be held Saturday September 24, 2022, 11:00 am at Valley West Christian Center, Madera.

As K.O. had a heart for children, especially those who were ill, the family asks, in lieu of flowers, donations in K.O.’s honor may be made to. "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 - donors@stjude.org”