Son of Sarah Leighton
- - - - -
Aviation Pioneer Died in Portland [Texas]
Elmer H. Leighton, 67, a retired pilot who pioneered aviation in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the early 1900s, died today in a Corpus Christi hospital.
A native of Milwaukee, Leighton moved to Corpus Christi in 1940 to help set up facilities for the opening of the Naval Air Station. He came here as a government civil service employee from Laredo where he had operated a flying school from 1938 until 1940. Leighton moved to Portland four years ago.
He began flying when he was about 15 years of age and was the first pilot for Kohler Airlines in Wisconsin. The airline was later acquired by United Airlines. He was also the first pilot for Northwest Air Lines in Minnesota.
In the 1930s he had his own flying circus which toured the United States doing aerobatics, parachute jumps, and other aircraft facts for almost 10 years. His pilot's license number was 122.
He was also a pilot for air mail flights in the 1920s throughout the northern states when pilots had to use pastures lighted by flare pots to land at night.
He was an Army pilot in the last part of World War I and at one time was commissioned as a colonel in the Mexican National Air Force.
Leighton retired from active flying about 15 years ago, after having survived many plane crashes during his long career. He still flew occasionally until recently.
Surviving are his wife, Clemencia; five daughers, one of San Antonio, Mrs. Martin J. Naylor of San Antonio, Mrs. William Honsinger of Mineral Wells, a daughter of Edinburg, and Mrs. Frank Donner of Fort Knox, Ky.; one son Arthur D. Layton [Leighton] of Portland, Texas; one brother, Archie Leighton of Milwaukee; 17 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be Friday at Cage-Mills Funeral Chapel with burial in Seaside Memorial Park.
Corpus Christi Times dated October 01, 1969
- - - - - -
Names of living daughters have been removed and can be found in the original obituary
- - - - - -
Son, Arthur "Donnie" Leighton (1942-2015)
- - - - -
Aviation Pioneer Died in Portland [Texas]
Elmer H. Leighton, 67, a retired pilot who pioneered aviation in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the early 1900s, died today in a Corpus Christi hospital.
A native of Milwaukee, Leighton moved to Corpus Christi in 1940 to help set up facilities for the opening of the Naval Air Station. He came here as a government civil service employee from Laredo where he had operated a flying school from 1938 until 1940. Leighton moved to Portland four years ago.
He began flying when he was about 15 years of age and was the first pilot for Kohler Airlines in Wisconsin. The airline was later acquired by United Airlines. He was also the first pilot for Northwest Air Lines in Minnesota.
In the 1930s he had his own flying circus which toured the United States doing aerobatics, parachute jumps, and other aircraft facts for almost 10 years. His pilot's license number was 122.
He was also a pilot for air mail flights in the 1920s throughout the northern states when pilots had to use pastures lighted by flare pots to land at night.
He was an Army pilot in the last part of World War I and at one time was commissioned as a colonel in the Mexican National Air Force.
Leighton retired from active flying about 15 years ago, after having survived many plane crashes during his long career. He still flew occasionally until recently.
Surviving are his wife, Clemencia; five daughers, one of San Antonio, Mrs. Martin J. Naylor of San Antonio, Mrs. William Honsinger of Mineral Wells, a daughter of Edinburg, and Mrs. Frank Donner of Fort Knox, Ky.; one son Arthur D. Layton [Leighton] of Portland, Texas; one brother, Archie Leighton of Milwaukee; 17 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be Friday at Cage-Mills Funeral Chapel with burial in Seaside Memorial Park.
Corpus Christi Times dated October 01, 1969
- - - - - -
Names of living daughters have been removed and can be found in the original obituary
- - - - - -
Son, Arthur "Donnie" Leighton (1942-2015)
Son of Sarah Leighton
- - - - -
Aviation Pioneer Died in Portland [Texas]
Elmer H. Leighton, 67, a retired pilot who pioneered aviation in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the early 1900s, died today in a Corpus Christi hospital.
A native of Milwaukee, Leighton moved to Corpus Christi in 1940 to help set up facilities for the opening of the Naval Air Station. He came here as a government civil service employee from Laredo where he had operated a flying school from 1938 until 1940. Leighton moved to Portland four years ago.
He began flying when he was about 15 years of age and was the first pilot for Kohler Airlines in Wisconsin. The airline was later acquired by United Airlines. He was also the first pilot for Northwest Air Lines in Minnesota.
In the 1930s he had his own flying circus which toured the United States doing aerobatics, parachute jumps, and other aircraft facts for almost 10 years. His pilot's license number was 122.
He was also a pilot for air mail flights in the 1920s throughout the northern states when pilots had to use pastures lighted by flare pots to land at night.
He was an Army pilot in the last part of World War I and at one time was commissioned as a colonel in the Mexican National Air Force.
Leighton retired from active flying about 15 years ago, after having survived many plane crashes during his long career. He still flew occasionally until recently.
Surviving are his wife, Clemencia; five daughers, one of San Antonio, Mrs. Martin J. Naylor of San Antonio, Mrs. William Honsinger of Mineral Wells, a daughter of Edinburg, and Mrs. Frank Donner of Fort Knox, Ky.; one son Arthur D. Layton [Leighton] of Portland, Texas; one brother, Archie Leighton of Milwaukee; 17 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be Friday at Cage-Mills Funeral Chapel with burial in Seaside Memorial Park.
Corpus Christi Times dated October 01, 1969
- - - - - -
Names of living daughters have been removed and can be found in the original obituary
- - - - - -
Son, Arthur "Donnie" Leighton (1942-2015)
- - - - -
Aviation Pioneer Died in Portland [Texas]
Elmer H. Leighton, 67, a retired pilot who pioneered aviation in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the early 1900s, died today in a Corpus Christi hospital.
A native of Milwaukee, Leighton moved to Corpus Christi in 1940 to help set up facilities for the opening of the Naval Air Station. He came here as a government civil service employee from Laredo where he had operated a flying school from 1938 until 1940. Leighton moved to Portland four years ago.
He began flying when he was about 15 years of age and was the first pilot for Kohler Airlines in Wisconsin. The airline was later acquired by United Airlines. He was also the first pilot for Northwest Air Lines in Minnesota.
In the 1930s he had his own flying circus which toured the United States doing aerobatics, parachute jumps, and other aircraft facts for almost 10 years. His pilot's license number was 122.
He was also a pilot for air mail flights in the 1920s throughout the northern states when pilots had to use pastures lighted by flare pots to land at night.
He was an Army pilot in the last part of World War I and at one time was commissioned as a colonel in the Mexican National Air Force.
Leighton retired from active flying about 15 years ago, after having survived many plane crashes during his long career. He still flew occasionally until recently.
Surviving are his wife, Clemencia; five daughers, one of San Antonio, Mrs. Martin J. Naylor of San Antonio, Mrs. William Honsinger of Mineral Wells, a daughter of Edinburg, and Mrs. Frank Donner of Fort Knox, Ky.; one son Arthur D. Layton [Leighton] of Portland, Texas; one brother, Archie Leighton of Milwaukee; 17 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be Friday at Cage-Mills Funeral Chapel with burial in Seaside Memorial Park.
Corpus Christi Times dated October 01, 1969
- - - - - -
Names of living daughters have been removed and can be found in the original obituary
- - - - - -
Son, Arthur "Donnie" Leighton (1942-2015)
Gravesite Details
Elmer is buried next to Clemencia Leighton
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
