He was a retired Farm Bureau Agent, having worked 23 years, 17 years for NFC Marketing and was a pre need counselor for Stephenson-Dearman for 10 years. He was a member and Deacon at Second Baptist Church for 65 years, and taught Sunday School for 64 years, was a 32 degree Mason, Shriner, and a member of the V. F. W. and American Legion. He was a Master Sergeant in the Army Air Corp in World War II, serving as a crew chief and flight engineer on B-24 & B-17 bombers in the European Theatre. He received the Good Conduct Medal/Bronze Star, EAME Service Ribbon with one Silver Star & one Bronze Service Star and two Presidential Citations, among other medals. He was the son of the late Will Polk and Estelle Watkins Polk.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Eva Sims Polk of Monticello; two sons, Bill Polk and wife, Beth of Tulsa, OK and Ricky Patterson of Hamburg; five daughters, Linda Kittler and husband, Billy of Pine Bluff, Carol Martindale and husband, Rhea of Memphis, TN, Phyllis King of Naples, FL, Gaye McDonald and husband, David of Longmont, CO and Donna Turner and husband, Charlie of McGehee; twenty two grandchildren and twenty four great grandchildren.
Condolences(22)
Ruth Doherty
Pine Bluff, AR Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Remembering Mr Leonard, I have to smile because he was such a character. My sincere sympathy to Mrs Eva, Linda, Bill, Carol and the rest of his family.Carolyn Donaldson
Tillar, AR Tuesday, March 29, 2011 To Bill, Beth, Carol and other family members. We are so sorry to hear about Mr. Polk. Larry had just talked to him the day before he was to go to Memphis but we never heard the outcome.We would have tried to see you at visitation. We think about you often and would have loved to have seen you again. God be with you till we meet again.Love,
Larry and Carolyn Donaldson (Carolyn Shockley)
Ben & Carolyn Adams
Monticello, AR Sunday, March 27, 2011 TO THE FAMILY..WE HAVE BEEN SO BLEESED ALL THE YEARS WE KNEW MR. LEONARD. HE WAS ALWAYS THE SAME NO MATTER WHERE YOU SAW HIM. HE HAD A SMILE THAT WOULD WARM YOUR HEART. CAROL..I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU IN YEARS. YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS. IT GIVES US PEACE KNOWING WE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN SOME DAY. FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS... GOD GAVE US SUCH A BLESSING TO HAVE HAD MR. LEONARD IN OUR LIVES.Bruce Knight
Monticello, AR Sunday, March 27, 2011 Mr. Leonard was a good neighbor and friend.Cheri Rash
Wilmar, AR Saturday, March 26, 2011 I am sorry for your loss. Your family wil be in my prayers. Mr. Polk would come in Wal Mart and always talk to us in automotives. He was part of our Wal Mart family and we will miss him. God bless you and give you piece in your time of need.Janice McAllister
Hot Springs Village, AR Saturday, March 26, 2011 I pray God will give you comfort in your time of loss. With sympathy and love, Janice GLADDEN McAllisterGary and Rosiléia Corker and Nilson Costa
Santos, São Paulo, Brazi, AR Saturday, March 26, 2011 Eva and Family,Rosileia, my father-in-law and I all express our deepest sympathies. Our heart goes out to you. We consider our lives enriched for having known Leonard.
Gary
Jan Holcomb Parker
Paragould, AR Saturday, March 26, 2011 I am so sorry to hear of Leonards passing..He was a good friend to my mom and dad, Jesse and Irene Holcomb...My thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this time...Vicki Scott
Pine Bluff, AR Friday, March 25, 2011 My thoughts and prayers are with your family. May God bless you.Dr. Milton Hughes
Pine Bluff, AR Friday, March 25, 2011 Eva- I was saddened to learn about Leonard. I will miss seeing him with you. He was a pleasure to get to know. May God bless him and keep him.Joan (Reynolds) Middleton
Kingwood, TX Thursday, March 24, 2011 I fondly remember Leonard. He was such a wonderful man and fine Christian. When I was growing up in Monticello...he was a friend and example to everyone at Second Baptist Church.We will be remembering him with fondness and the family with prayers.
Joan Reynolds/Middleton
Lynn & Mele Strickland
kihei, HI Thursday, March 24, 2011 Dear Polk family,We're sorry to hear Uncle Leonard has passed. I have such fond memories of going to Arkansas from 1960 - 1973 and staying at the house there with Aunt Helen & Uncle Leonard and his cigars and Cadillacs. Carol was the only child at home when I visited but we lots of fun. I wish you all the best.
With love and Aloha,
Lynn & Mele Strickland
Delbert Sipes
Kansas City, MO Thursday, March 24, 2011 So sorry for you loss!Gaye and David McDonald
Longmont, CO Thursday, March 24, 2011 Mr. Leonard was a loving, kind and supportive step-father. He was always there for our family. We will miss him. We will see him again in heaven.Redmon O'Neill
Van Buren, AR Thursday, March 24, 2011 A real hero of mine. I couldn't count the number of times Ronnie Ham and I spent Sunday afternoons in his home with Bill. I know he will be missed, but we will see him again.Niell Strickland
Sugar Land,, TX Thursday, March 24, 2011 We are sad to learn of Uncle Leonards departure from this home, but excited for him to have his heavenly reward. He was a favorite of ours and always was fun to be with. I know he will be so missed by everyone, especially your family. Sorry that Shirley and I can't be there in person. Please know that we will be praying for the family and are sharing your sorrow. The saints are rejoicing over his homecoming.Niell & Shirley
Delbert and Candy Sizemore
Dermott, AR Wednesday, March 23, 2011 A family agent and friend all my life. My Daddy,Chester H. Newton, thought a lot of Mr. Leonard. May he rest in peace with our Savior Christ. Prayers to the family.Nena Sims Gorrell
Columbus, MS Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Just wanted you all to know how sorry I am for your loss. Uncle Leonard is no longer suffering and at home with his Hevenly Father. Please know that my thoughts & prayers are with you all.Joyce Willis Higgins
Delhi, LA Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Carol and Bill and family,You are in our thoughts and prayers. We knew Leonard for alot of years and remember the good times we had while we were members of Second Baptist Church. Leonard was the chairman of the Deacons when I became secretary for the church. He was a good friend and will be missed.
Fred & Joyce Higgins
Carole (Doss) Rushing
Rison, AR Wednesday, March 23, 2011 When I was a young adult starting out on my own, Leonard Polk was my first insurance agent. My dad, E. P. Doss, and Mr. Polk were good friends so Dad wouldn't have considered letting me go elsewhere for insurance. I don't think I could have had a better insurance agent to guide me in those young years. I always found him with a smile on his face and so willing to help me through, what to me was, the maze. I trusted Mr. Polk implicitly and he deserved it. I know this is a great loss to his family. Please think of all the people he helped through all the years one way or the other and remember what an inspiration he was to so many. I pray that the Lord will guide you on this journey through this next phase of your lives and will give you the peace and comfort that only he can, knowing that Mr. Polk is right there with him.In sincere sympathy,
Carole (Doss) Rushing
Gail Kizer
Monticello, AR Wednesday, March 23, 2011 I worked down the hall from the Farm Bureau Office when it was in the Courthouse years ago. That's where I met and learned to know Leonard Polk. He was always fun to be around and added a lot to the atmosphere of the basement of the Courthouse. My condolences to his family.Barbara McElroy
Monticello, AR Tuesday, March 22, 2011 So very sorry for your loss, you know where he is and I just bet Ernest McElroy greeted him as he arrived. You are in my thoughts and prayers.