Maj. USAF, Ret. Leslee Anne Eastwood

Leslee Anne Eastwood (Maj. USAF, ret.), beloved daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt, cousin, and friend, died at her home in Del Rio, Texas on October 8, 2023. Leslee possessed a keen intellect, a skilled musician, writer, poet, pilot, teacher, religious counselor, and was dedicated to perfection in all she did. She was a force of nature with a lively and complex personality. She was a fierce friend, defender of what she perceived as correct and ethical action, animal lover and a devout Catholic. Leslee graduated with honors from Phoenixville Area High School in 1973. Under her leadership the High School Band received national recognition. She played starring roles in high school musicals and received the Metropolitan Philadelphia Distinguished Student Award (1972-1973) in recognition of her outstanding citizenship and special talent in the performing arts. She was active and worked as a wardrobe mistress at the Valley Forge Music Fair in Devon, PA, working with famed performers, and was crowned queen of the Phoenixville Area Dogwood Festival in 1973. Leslee was selected as a Rotary exchange student and was honored by the Yardley-Sheldon Rotary Club of Birmingham, England, earning her school's colors for her scholarship and bringing "American" basketball style to the winning high school team. Leslee graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in communications and radio-TV production and direction. While at University, she was active in the Army and Air Force ROTC Programs. Through her participation in the Army Orienteering Club, she was ranked fifth in the nation for women and was the first alternate for the first US Women's team to compete in the World Championship in 1976. She won an Air Force 2-year scholarship and was an Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate. In the Air Force, Leslee served as Chief, Audio-Visual Branch, Command Presentation Division, Electronic Security Command at Kelly Air Force Base. While at Kelly, she conceptualized, developed, produced, and directed a series of documentaries which received the 1979 writing award honorable mention in the Aviation Space Writers Association (South Central Region) Annual awards and was selected to compete for the Tops in Blue touring show. Leslee graduated from Laughlin AFB Pilot Training in Class 81-04 and was assigned to the KC-135 aircraft. As co-pilot and Aircraft Commander, she gained over 1500 hours fling out of Robins AF, GA and Pease AFB, NH to forward operating locations in Alaska, Europe, and the Middle East. Her family remained in awe of the baby of the family piloting huge jets that refilled other jets in the air. She also served as a flight instructor, with the safety of her students as a primary concern. In her retirement years Leslee sang with Del Rio Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir, participated with the Upstagers, playing Guenevere in the Paul Proag Theatre for the Performing Arts production of "Camelot," and provided contracted religious counseling at Laughlin AirForce Base. Leslee's mother enjoyed an annual "sunbird trek" to Texas and they had memorable adventures, including time on the "Lonesome Dove' movie set. Between 1998 and 2007 Leslee relocated to Phoenixville, PA to help her mother in her last years. During that time Leslee became involved with the National Audubon Society and successfully advocated for protected areas for the Bald Eagle. Leslee is survived by her sister, Patricia Eastwood of Yakima, Washington, niece Kristina Neyart of Yakima, Washington, nephew Karl John Neyhart and his wife Kelly of Canton, Michigan, grand-nieces Alexandria, Kennedy Karmeyn, grand-nephew Karl Thomas, and her menagerie: Sweet, Good Boy and Calico. She was preceded in death by her father, John C.J. Eastwood (Lt. Col. USAF, ret.), mother, Della Brown Eastwood, sisters Susan Eastwood Berry and Sunnia Nancy Eastwood. Leslee will be memorialized and buried at Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter # 5. San Antonio, Texas at 10:45 AM on October 19, 2023. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Leslee's name to the Susan Eastwood Memorial Fund, Care of Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF, Box 0112, San Francisco, CA 94143-0112, or the charity of your choice. We hold you in our hearts. Ave atque vale, dear Leslee.

Maj. USAF, Ret. Leslee Anne Eastwood

June 6, 1955 - October 8, 2023