DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010377

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   32 lines

LEO W. EARLY

Captain Leo W. Early, U.S. Navy, retired, 82, died Sept. 30, 1997, in Bayside Health Care Center.

He was the son of the late Mary Early Linkous and V.L. Early. He grew up in Radford, Va., graduated from high school there, and received his bachelor of science in chemical engineering from V.P.I. in 1938. He worked at Virginia Chemicals, Pulaski, Va., Seagrams, Louisville, Ky., and Celenase, Pearisburg, Va., until March 1941 when he entered the Navy as an aviation cadet and received his wings in 1942. He flew PBMs and PBYs during World War II in Bermuda, South America and all over the Pacific.

After the war he continued his Naval career flying many types of planes and helicopters. He attended Navy Line School and Naval War College. He served as executive officer of HU2, commanding officer of HS9, CNATRA and CNABATRA staffs, executive officer of the Boxer-carrier for Marine Helicopters, commanding officer of Glynco, Ga., and helicopter officer of Op 05 in the Pentagon. His last duty was on SERVLANT staff and CTF140. He retired in February 1972 after 31 years of service.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Eula Phillips Early; four children, Leo Jr. of Torrance, Calif., Timothy John of Virginia Beach, Patricia Kolantis of Virginia Beach, Karen Norman of Chesapeake; and four grandchildren, Jarrett Early, Katie and Scott Norman, and Anna Kolantis.

Funeral services and burial will be conducted by DeVilbiss Funeral Home in Radford, Va. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel, is handling local arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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