Obituary

H. Leonard Eblin, 93, died Sunday at Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House.  Leonard was the son of the late Clina Rowsey Eblin and Clark Allen Eblin.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Clark A. Eblin, his son James E. Eblin and his wife, Evelyn Jones Eblin. He was a charter member- resident of the Woodlands Retirement Community. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the East Huntington Kiwanis Club and was a Life Member of the Elks Club of Huntington.  Leonard retired from Allied Chemical where he was in charge of loading and off loading Allied’s ocean going barges from the Gulf Coast to the North Eastern Atlantic Coast.  His second retirement was from the United National Bank in Huntington where he was in personal relations. His third retirement was from Huntington Habitat for Humanity.  He served as chairman of construction, and was a hands-on, four to five days a week, volunteer on over fifty houses built by Habitat. Habitat honored him with the Jim Wagers Service Award as well as the volunteer of the year and because of his service to Habitat, he was the WSAZ “Hometown Hero”. Leonard was a true humanitarian. In addition to his work with Habitat, he had been a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop Lucky Seven of First United Methodist Church for over fifteen years.  During that time, he led four contingents of Scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  He was awarded the Silver Beaver Medal, the highest Scouting award for volunteers in Scouting. During his association with East Huntington Kiwanis, you may have met him at the Kiwanis Pancake Festival taking up tickets for many years.  Along with the East Huntington Kiwanis,  United Bank, and his church he volunteered to help prepare the Sunday meal for the Huntington City Mission once a month.  He was honored as the volunteer of the year for the City Mission. Leonard was the kind of person that did acts of kindness for people that no one else ever knew about. He is survived by his son, Dr. Jack C. Eblin and wife Judy of Huntington, his grandchildren, Scott Eblin and wife Diane of Herndon, VA, Steven Eblin and wife Rhonda of Asheboro, NC, Matt Eblin and wife Valerie of Dayton, OH, and Lea Ann Eblin of S. Lyon, MI. Additional survivors include his great grandchildren Andy and Brad Eblin of Herndon, VA and Conner and Carly Eblin of Dayton, OH, his sister Frances Reynolds of Middleburg, Fl, and a  daughter–in-law, Mary Margaret Eblin Cheatum of Lebanon, TN. Three nieces and nephews survive, Carol Perry of Huntington, Sue Ellen Patrick of Middleburg, Fl, and Clark Reynolds of Frisco, TX. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Huntington Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of Huntington, or the First United Methodist Church of Huntington. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 2:00 PM at Beard Mortuary with Rev. Paul Russell and Rev. Ronald Brooks officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Huntington. The family will receive friends after 12 noon at the mortuary.