Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Soper, Jr., Leon A.  July 1 2004
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K Taylor bluewolf@onemain.com July 6, 2004, 2:56 pm

The Bakersfield Californian 
Leon A. Soper, Jr.
3/24/1914 7/1/2004

Leon A. Soper Jr., was born March 24, 1914, to Ruth and Leon A. Soper Sr., in 
Hartford, Connecticut. The family moved to San Marino, California, in 1931, 
where Lee graduated from South Pasadena High School and attended Pasadena 
Junior College. Before the war he was credit manager for General Electric 
Credit Corporation in Los Angeles. He entered the Navy in 1942 as a Radarman 
First Class, serving in the South Pacific Theater until his discharge in 1945. 
He would later be called to serve in the Korean Conflict in 1950-51. 

His long banking career began at the California Bank in Los Angeles. In 1964 
he successfully began a new Claifornia Bank in Chico, CA, then to Visalia to 
manage the California Bank there. His next move was to Bakersfield to open the 
new California Bank as Vic President where he remained for a decade.

He was very involved in civic affairs, serving on the Chamber of Commerce 
Military Affairs Committee, was a member of the Southern Sierra Council of Boy 
Scouts, was a member of the Bakersfield Board of Realtors, a Fellow of the 
National Intsitute of Credit, and a graduate of the USC School of Business 
Economics. He was very proud to be a part of procuring the Tartan Track at 
Bakersfield College in 1974.

He leaves his wife, Pat of 55 years. Theirs was a uniquely loving union. Their 
only child, John David died in 1985, a loss from which they never fully 
recovered. He also leaves his beloved daughter, Kathleen (Mrs. Robert Langdon 
of Barnardsville, NV) and granddaughter, Kareen and her four children of 
Pasadena. He leaves his brother, Comdr. David Lee Soper of San Diego; four 
nieces and their families. His sister, June Goodman (Mrs. Daniel C. Goodman) 
died in 1987. His youngest sister, Virginia (Mrs. George Sterling) died in 
2001.

He was a former member of both Stockdale and Bakersfield Country Clubs where 
he was an avid golfer who played to win. He was a Christian, always a 
gentleman. He loved good music and was a strong supporter of the Bakersfield 
Symphony Orchestra, believing it to be one of the finest. He was a lifetime 
member of Symphony Associates.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at 1:00 p.m., at 
Hillcrest Memorial Park. No visitation is scheduled. 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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