->WINTHROP -- Leon E. Smith, 86, of Winthrop, died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at his home.He was born in Augusta Aug. 21, 1921, the son of Lewis and Hattie (Pedder) Smith. Leon graduated from Cony High School in 1940. He served in the Army during World War II in the South Pacific, (Guadalcanal; Munda, New Georgia; Aitape, New Guinea, and the Philippines) for four and a half years.After the war, Leon married Phyllis M. Kenney in 1948. He was employed by the Augusta Post Office for 30 years, then retired and drove school bus for Vassalboro and Winthrop for 18 years. Leon and Phyllis lived in East Monmouth for 11 years and then bought Averill Farm Ice Cream and moved to Vassalboro in 1969. They sold it 10 years later. In 1979, the Smiths retired and made their home in Winthrop. They traveled extensively throughout the United States in a camper/trailer, including a trip to Alaska.Leon was a member of Bethlehem Lodge in Augusta for 51 years and was master of the lodge in 1957. He belonged to Kora Temple Shrine, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and marched in the Arab Patrol for 14 years. He was a member of the Squire Town Squares for many years and was a member of the Winthrop Grange for 50 years.Mr. Smith was predeceased by his brother, George R. Pedder; two cousins, Charlie and Margaret Pedder; and several other family members.He is survived by and will be sadly missed by his wife, Phyllis M. Smith; a son, L. Kenney Smith and his wife, Mary, of West Gardiner; two daughters, Penny Ruksznis and her husband, Tom, of Sidney and Laurel Bowie and her husband, Michael, of Winthrop; six grandchildren, Corey and Morgan Smith, Craig and Amanda Ruksznis and Ryan and Kristen Conrad.Visiting hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St. in Augusta, immediately followed by a 4 p.m. service. A reception to celebrate Leon's life will follow the service at Ken and Mary Smith's home in West Gardiner. A graveside committal service, with military honors, will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the new Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road in Augusta.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to CE Express, a fund started by Leon's son to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Harold Alfond Cancer Center raising awareness and funds for cancer research or, HealthReach Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903-0828. Envelopes for both charities will be available at the funeral home. www.khrfuneralhomes.com