Paul W. Leasure Sr., 84, of 102 Dorencamp Lane, Center Township, died at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born in New Castle on Sept. 8, 1920, he was a son of James Earl and Grace E. Clark Leasure.

Mr. Leasure served in the U.S. Army in New Guinea during World War II and was active in the reserves, earning the rank of colonel before retiring on Sept. 8, 1980.

He was an engineer for Bell Telephone in Pittsburgh and retired in 1981 after 41 years.

Mr. Leasure was a member of the Joseph T. Black Post 249 and American Legion Post 117.

He is survived by his wife, Grace Parish Leasure, whom he married Jan. 15, 1942; two sons, Paul W. Leasure Jr. and Lawrence Leasure, both of Butler; three daughters, Mrs. Kathleen Haunty and Sandra Burke, both of Butler, and Mrs. Joanne Sullivan of Salisbury, N.C.; three brothers, Albert and Donald Leasure, both of New Castle, and Russell Leasure of Honolulu, Hawaii; two sisters, Anna Gregor and Grace Thompson, both of Florida; nine grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, a sister, a son, two granddaughters and a great-grandson.

LEASURE - Friends of Paul W. Leasure Sr., who died Friday, April 1, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St., Butler. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Butler, the Rev. Dennis Molnar, pastor, officiating.