A private graveside service for Mr. Riley Leon Telford, age 95 of West Monroe will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 14, 2022 at Kilpatrick's Serenity Gardens in West Monroe, LA with Rev. Don Delukie officiating.   Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston.

Leon was born June 4, 1926 in Spearsville, LA to Elison and May Hollis Telford and he passed from this life on February 10, 2022 at the age of 95 in West Monroe, LA.  He loved to tell that he saw the car Bonnie and Clyde were driving as it came through Spearsville on the day they were ambushed and gunned down near Arcadia.  After graduating from high school he went to work for Railroad Express as the shipping and receiving clerk.  He met the love of this life, Geneva when delivering a package to the department store where she worked in Monroe.  After retiring from the railroad, he was named Warehouse Manager for Howard Brothers Discount Stores of Monroe.  His passions were fishing for catfish, frog hunting with brother-in-law, Carol and traveling the country in his motorhome with his wife, Geneva and friends.  Their travels took them to nearly every state in the continental U.S., Canada and Mexico.  Many of those trips were chauffeuring family and friends to hospitals from Minnesota to Houston and points in between.  Their favorite destinations were Branson, Missouri and the Smokey Mountains.  He was an avid supporter of missionaries in Churches of Christ from around the world.  He would often cook a catfish dinner for a visiting missionary, preacher or preacher student.  He was instrumental in helping start World Radio broadcasting the gospel across the globe.  Even in his eighties he was mowing yards for spending money, driving himself to church and grocery shopping as well as going to the fitness center three or four days a week.  At one time he was the oldest member of Anytime Fitness in West Monroe and held a record of miles ridden on a stationary bike.  He spent his last days with his daughter and son-in-law who provided for his care until his death in his West Monroe home.   He had a great love for the Lord, his family and friends.  He will be missed by all who knew him, but he is now safe in the arms of Jesus.  Leon is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 69 years, Geneva Joiner Telford, his brothers:  H.D. "Buster" Telford, Ray Telford and Preston Telford; and his sister, Maybelle Telford Grafton.

Leon is survived by his brother-in-law, Carol Joiner of Calhoun; daughter, Sandra Gail Davis and husband, Jim of West Monroe; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and many friends from church and community.

Visitation will be from 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM, Friday, February 11, 2022 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston, LA.  Memorials may be made to Southern Christian Home in Morrilton, AR or World Christian Broadcasting of Franklin, TN.  To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com .