Leland A. Brubaker

Leland A. Brubaker was born May 7, 1920 north of Arlington on the homestead to Arthur and Leona Brubaker. He attended Box Springs Elementary and graduated from Ordway High School. A year after graduation he joined the Navy where he served on several ships, including the USS Astoria when it went down at Guadalcanal. He was stationed in Hawaii and in San Diego where he was a photographer assigned to take pictures of gunnery exercises. On August 19, 1944, Leland and Molly Catherine Gray were married at the Methodist Church in Pasadena, California. Leland farmed and ranched in the Crowley County area, then moved to Alamosa, CO to attend Adams State College where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1959 and his Master’s Degree in 1961. He began his teaching career at Alamosa High School. He taught and was an administrator in the San Luis Valley and the Arkansas Valley for many years, ending his career at North School in La Junta. During that time, he also coached and officiated baseball, football, and basketball. Leland enjoyed his family, supporting his children and grandchildren in all their activities. He was a loving, caring husband and father. He loved camping, going to his sister Frances’s cabin, and watching ball games. Leland was a past member of the Lions, the Roping Club, the Fanner’s baseball team and an original member of the VFW in Ordway. He was also a longtime member of the Swink United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Molly Catherine of La Junta; son, Tom (Karen) Brubaker of Swink; daughter, Mary Hobbs of Swink; grandchildren, Arthur Brubaker of Ordway, Rochelle Brubaker of Arizona, Shane (Jennifer Johnson) Brubaker of Johnstown, Jennifer Brubaker of Brighton, Amy Hobbs of Swink, Jeff Hobbs of Swink, Jason Brubaker of Colorado Springs, Daniel Potts of Colorado Springs, and numerous great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and by his many friends, especially those at the Copper Kitchen.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Leona Brubaker, his siblings, Phayus, Miland, Orland, and Frances and his children Mick and Zoreda.
Memorial services will be Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Rocky Ford with Rev. Tom Dudley of the Swink United Methodist Church officiating.
Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Swink United Methodist Church or Arkansas Valley Hospice.