Final Salute

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Orient Plymouth Congregational Church with full military graveside rites conducted by the Greenfield American Legion Head-Endres Post No. 265 and V.F.W. Post No. 5357. Mr. Phil Price will officiating the service. A luncheon will be held at the church following military rites. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Memorials: May be directed to the Orient Plymouth Congregational Church.

Dale Leroy Killian “Leroy”, first child of Dale Edward and Marjorie Ann Killion “Marge” was born during a blizzard at his mother’s parent’s (Charles and Mary Clayton) house west of the Orient Cemetery, Orient, Iowa on March 10, 1948. He passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026.

Dale’s family made their home in an upstairs apartment in Orient till the summer of 1948 when they moved to the farm that Dale and his brother Kenneth owned. Leroy started helping on the farm at an early age of 6, helping milk their 20 cows. Leroy enjoyed working with his show calves and then showing them at the Fairs. He farmed with his dad, neighboring farmers and worked at the Orient Sale Barn on sale days until he reported to Navy Boot Camp in April 1968.

Leroy received his formal schooling at Orient Consolidated School, graduating from Orient-Macksburg High School in 1966. While in High School he participated in football, baseball and was a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), receiving an Iowa Farmer Degree in 1967. After high school he attended the first Auto Mechanics Technology Course offered at Southwestern Community College, graduating in December 1967.

In February 1968 Leroy enlisted in the Navy, reporting to boot camp in April 1968. After boot camp he was assigned to the Seabees, Mobile Construction Battalion (MCB) 3, Port Hueneme, California. While assigned to MCB3, the battalion was deployed to Okinawa in September 1969 and the Republic of South Vietnam in October 1970. His next duty was at the U.S. Naval Facility, Midway Island in September 1971. In November 1971 he was sent on Temporary Duty to Oceanographic System Pacific Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was separated from the Navy in February 1972. Leroy’s rank on separation was Construction Mechanic Seaman CMCN (E-3).

Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in July 1974, starting out with the 289th Ordinance Company Creston, Iowa. As a member of HQ 103rd COSCOM Des Moines, Iowa he participated 2 REFORGER Exercises, 5 Command Post Exercises and 1 Annual Training (AT) with the 3rd SUPCOM Europe-Germany. He was selected as Command Liaison Non Commission Officer to the 169th Support Command Europe-Germany during LOGEX/BC III 1990. He also had temporary duty with 3rd SUPCOM Europe-Germany in support of Desert Shield/Storm 1990 & 1991. Leroy was the Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) Operations/Staff NCO (54Z50) of the command with the rank SGM (E-9) when he was transferred to the Retired Reserve on September 1, 1994. He received his Certificate of Retirement March 10, 2008.

In February 1972 Leroy returned home to work on the family farm and attended the Farm Co-op course at Southwestern Community College. He was a co-owner of Orient Tractor Repair. He worked 8 years for Wendell and Doug Holliday. He drove a truck for various trucking companies, hauling mail for Midwest Transport Inc., delivering Dry Ice and CO2 for Pain Enterprises Inc., Riverside Transport Inc. and Cryogenic Transportation Inc. He was also a part-time employee with Agriland FS Inc.

In June 1991, Leroy met his companion Julia “Judy” Roberston who was visiting her son Mike. After retiring in March 2014, Leroy was able to devote time with his sister Kristy, taking her shopping, to the doctor, getting her hair cut and other places she needed to go. He would also try to visit her every Sunday. A lot of time was devoted to his outdoor hobbies: hunting, fishing, and showing his nephews how to trap. Team and registered trapshooting with neighbors and friends at area gun clubs.

Leroy was a member of Orient Plymouth Congregational Church, Williamson American Legion Post 719, Lifetime Member at Large of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Lifetime Member Amateur Trapshooting Association of America, past member, Orient Bulldogs 4H Club, Orient-Macksburg FFA, Orient Volunteer Fire Department and Adair County Sheriffs Posse.

Leroy was preceded in Death by his parents Dale and Marge Killion, brother Dennis Killion, and companion of 14 years, Julia “Judy” Roberston.

He is survived by his sisters; Kathy (husband Jerry) Wright of Des Moines, Iowa and Kristy (husband Ed) Miller of Creston, Iowa; brother Dick Killion of Orient, Iowa; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.