Leslie Edward Breeding, 84

Funeral services for Leslie Edward Breeding, 84, of Oxford, Mississippi, were held Saturday, May 5, 2018, at Waller Funeral Home in Oxford with the Rev. Robert Allen officiating. Mr. Breeding died May 1 at his home in Oxford.
He was born June 18, 1933, in the Ozark County community of Locust, the son of Leslie Edward and Vella Marie Sowards Breeding, He grew up in the Missouri Ozarks, graduating from West Plains High School in 1951 and the University of Missouri in 1955. Immediately following college, he enlisted in the Navy and began active duty, completing Officer Candidacy School and being commissioned as an officer in January 1956. His greatest accomplishment in the Navy was completing flight training school and receiving his wings in 1957. He had the privilege of serving as a Navy pilot for 24 years in various places, aircraft and carriers throughout the Atlantic and Pacific regions. He retired from military life on March 1, 1979, while assigned to Navy ROTC at Ole Miss. His days of flying continued as a civilian pilot, mainly from Memphis and North Mississippi area airports. He celebrated over 60 years of flying and logged more than 27,000 flight hours. He often said that once he started flying, he never worked another day in his life.
Mr. Breeding was a member of First Baptist Church in Oxford; he was also a former member of the Lions Club.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Catledge Breeding of Oxford; daughters Lacey Marie Sloan and husband Ibrahim Zahoor, Samantha Kay Breeding and Virginia Jane Moore and husband Greg, all of Oxford; sons Leslie Edward Breeding III and wife Jennie of Aurora, Mark Catledge Jackson and wife Laura of Lexington, Massachusetts, and John Allen Breeding of Nashville, Tennessee; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several Missouri cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Edna Elizabeth Hoyt.   
Burial was in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 800 Van Buren Ave., Oxford, MS 38655.
Waller Funeral Home, Oxford, directors.