Leland Ernest Weichbrodt, born July 2, 1924 in OKC to Alfred and Ruth (Tague) Weichbrodt, passed away peacefully Nov. 9, 2011 at the age of 87. He grew up in Ardmore, OK attending Ardmore schools where he was a heavy-weight champion wrestler and was named to the Ardmore All Star football team of 1st half of the 20th century. After high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. A member of the Greatest Generation, he served on the USS Prince Georges from Dec. 1944 in the Peleliu-Solomon Islands, Pacific Theater as a Radar Man 3rd Class until his honorable discharge in Dec. 1945. He met the love of his life, Melba Christine Noell, of Farmers Branch, TX at an OU-Texas football game. They were married Sept. 3, 1947. He returned to school, graduating from OU with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. He and Christine had 4 wonderful children and he started his career in the oil and gas industry, retiring as a geologist but continuing to pursue his love of geology as an independent through 2005. He enjoyed vacations with his family and those infamous vacation home movies. He especially enjoyed cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. He was an indeterminable conversationalist ~ he could spin a yarn ~ and could carry on a long term dissertation with anyone he met. We will always remember his sweet smile and easy going manner and how he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Harold, and one sister, Betty Shannon. He is survived by his wife, Christine, of 64 years; his children, Tom Weichbrodt, Steve Weichbrodt and wife Joni, Darlene Weichbrodt and Gary Weichbrodt; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Viewing will be Friday, 9am-9pm with the family receiving visitors from 5-7pm at Mercer-Adams. Services are set for 11:00am, Saturday, November 12 at Putnam City Christian Church, 4215 N. Grove Ave, Oklahoma City, 405-789-2142. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, OK.