Lenord Duane McGownd was born on Jan. 17, 1937 to Lewis Lake McGownd and Villa Blanche Tate McGownd. He died on Oct. 16, 2020. He was 83 years old. He served in the U.S. Air Force in the ‘50s and was stationed in Ashiya, Japan. He developed a life-long relationship with several of his Air Force buddies and participated in numerous reunions with this group in the 1980s and ‘90s. He worked for most of the major U.S. aircraft manufacturers including Boeing, Lear Jet, Cessna, McDonnell-Douglas and Falcon Jet. He always enjoyed playing cards with friends and families, tinkering with cars and trucks and tapping his foot while listening to Bluegrass and Country-Western music.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley Greer McGownd; his brother-in-law, Louis Gomez; his mother-in-law, Nell Greer; his brother-in-law, Winston Greer; his brother-in-law, Wayden Greer; and his brother-in-law, Joseph Fletcher. He is survived by his son, Lenord D. McGownd Jr. and his spouse Jennifer; grandson, Connor Lake McGownd; sister, Vera Mae Gomez; brothers, Raymond and his spouse, Gladys, and Gerald McGownd and Juanita; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A Committal Service with military honors was held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.
