Leonso F. Fernandez, age 57, went to be with his Lord on July 8, 2023 at Riverside Regional Medical Center. He was born March 9, 1966 in Santa Fe, Honduras, Central America to Edmundo Martinez and Dominga Solano Fernandez.
He joined the US Army in 1984, served in Desert Shield/Storm, earned two associate degrees with the USAF, became an Airborne Jump Master, and mentored many soldiers. During his twenty-three-year military career, Leonso had lived in North Carolina, Mississippi, Germany, and Italy. After retiring, Leonso continued to serve his nation as a GS civilian for fifteen years. Both military and civilian service allowed him to indulge in his love of travel by visiting South Africa, Turkey, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Austria, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Slovenia, France, and England. Leonso was a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He recently celebrated thirty-one years of marriage to his bride, Kellie.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by his son, Paul F. Fernandez and Paul’s wife Kayla, daughter Sophia E. Fernandez, brother Geo Martinez, sister Maria Martinez, sister Mirna Martinez, sister Suyapa Fernandez Almendares, and many nieces and nephews.
No service or memorial will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Leonso in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the USO or to the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, two organizations important to him. Arrangements by Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory, Denbigh Chapel, 12893 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA.
