Leon Fife Bentley
Leon Fife Bentley passed away in Paradise Valley, Ariz., on June 1, 2012, surrounded by his loving and devoted family. He was born in Glasgow, Mo., on Aug. 16, 1923, to Richard Thomas and Mary Cecile Fife Bentley.
He served as a first lieutenant in World War II from June 1943 to October 1946 in the Philippines, Japan and Italy. He returned to graduate from the University of Missouri in 1948.
The same year, he married Margaret "Peggy" Robnett. In 1957, they moved to Arizona and raised their children, Marty and Bart, in the Arcadia area until Peggy's untimely death from cancer in 1970.
Leon began his career in Arizona working for the Bank of Douglas as the branch manager. He then became vice president of the Guaranty Bank in Phoenix prior to opening their Scottsdale branch and serving as branch manager.
In 1960, he joined W.R. Staats that merged with Glore Forgan. He was vice president then manager when it became Dupont. He went to New York to get Harris Upham to buy Dupont's office and returned to manage Harris Upham, which became Smith Barney.
He continued working until 1990, when he was elected president of Paradise Valley Country Club, and served a two-year term. He was a life member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, he loved being a father and he excelled at building skateboard ramps. He was an avid, self-taught golfer and tennis player. And the family enjoyed skiing, trips to La Jolla and camping at Lake Powell together.
In November 1973, he married Catherine Childs and raised their three children, Vanessa, Dierks and Fife. He is survived by Cathy, his wife of 40 years, and all five children.