Leonard Bufkin, 73 / Oct. 27, 1936 — Aug. 24, 2010

Published 9:56 am Saturday, September 4, 2010

Leonard Bufkin, 73, of Elkhart was welcomed to this life Oct. 27, 1936 and departed from this life Aug. 24, 2010.

Born in Rolling Fork, Miss., Leonard was the eighth child born to Theodore and Alberta (Fletcher) Bufkin. The family relocated to Cassopolis, where he attended high school and graduated in the class of 1957.

Leonard moved to Elkhart, Ind. and married his soul mate, Betty Hansborough, on Sept. 29, 1983.

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Bufkin; his parents, Theodore and Alberta Bufkin; one son, Rodney Hansborough; three brothers, J.C. and Plez Dorsey and Marvin Bufkin; four sisters, Frankie Kelly, Charles Ray Collins, Marion Goins and Thelma Bufkin-White; two sisters-in-law, Diane Bufkin and Roberta Bufkin; and two brothers-in-law, Carl Kelly and Leonard Curtis.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Angela Crowe of Nashville, Tenn., Carmen (Charles) Johnson of Indianapolis, Ind. and Lamont Hansborough of Elkhart; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; three sisters, China Curtis of Cincinnati, Ohio, Delores (Harry) Slaughter of Dayton, Ohio and Dorothy (Nathaniel) Pittman of Elkhart; two brothers, Theodore Bufkin Jr. of Grand Rapids, Mich. and the Rev. Rayvon (Denise) Bufkin of Elkhart; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

Family and friends gathered Saturday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. until the time of his Homegoing Service at noon at Agape Missionary Baptist Church, 248 West Wolf Ave., Elkhart. The Rev. Darnell Brown, pastor of the church, officiated, assisted by the Rev. Rayvon Bufkin of Elkhart and the Rev. Christopher Pittman, pastor of the Church of Cassopolis.

Interment followed in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Cassopolis.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

Online condolences may be sent to connellychapel@frontier.com.