LEONARD E. SHOFNER
May 2, 1940 - January 4, 2024
On January 4, 2024, Eugene Leonard Shofner, 83, of Bakersfield, California, passed away in peace at a private care facility in Bakersfield. Leonard was born on May 2, 1940 in Bakersfield, CA to John and Melba Juanita (Prather) Shofner.
Born with ankyloglossia, Leonard could not talk until nearly 7 seven years old, teaching him the value of persistence, tenacity, and a strong will to be heard. In their home, his mother made their soap by hand and made their shoes out of gunny sacks and tar. The family raised animals to feed themselves. Truly a humble, salt of the earth upbringing.
In second grade Leonard learned to play the violin and received recognition for his abilities from the Junior Musicians of America during a performance at the Woman's Club in 1949. While attending Fruitvale grammar school he also was honored with the opportunity to play violin in a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.
Leonard spent his pre-teen summers with friend and mentor Sam Ward. Sam was a miner working a claim along the Kern River and helped foster Leonard's love of the outdoors, looking for treasure and camping. Leonard loved telling the story of driving Sam along old Kern Canyon Road when he was 12 years old, because Sam Ward was afraid of his own driving skills. Leonard was pulled over and the deputy interviewing him ended up letting Leonard continue driving, instead of the adult in the car!
Hard work defined Leonard's entire life. He started his work life driving a tractor on his fathers farm at 8 years old. He worked at a local refinery at 12 years, after school with one of his brothers doing clean-up work. He bucked hay at 17 years old which likely contributed to his manly handshake that lasted his entire life.
Leonard nearly died in a train wreck while working for Southern Pacific Railway and was bed ridden for a year while recovering. He worked for Union Oil in his late 20's. The early 70's brought him night school for welding, an introduction to Pat and this is also when he began his spiritual career as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Leonard and Pat married in 1971 and resided in Bakersfield for most of their 53-year marriage. They briefly relocated to Idaho in 1992 for about six years before returning to reside permanently in Bakersfield.
Leonard once entertained an offer for a career as an underwater welder but opted to stay in his hometown, building a family with Pat and his own business as an owner-operator welder. They branched out with a portable welding machine rental & repair business for about 10 years, and they flipped houses together before that became a thing.
Leonard battled hard yet ultimately succumbed to Parkinson's, a disease that he fought for 14 years. He is survived by his wife Patricia Shofner, brother Fred Shofner, children Ken Shofner, Steve and Piper Shofner, Sam Shofner, Cyndi Knight, John and Stacy Knight, Rhonda and John Stallone, grandchildren Kevin, Travis, Sheridan and Maycee, Sebastian, Maxwell, and great-grandson Haidyn.
Graveside services are scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 2:00pm, Shafter Memorial Park, 18662 Santa Fe Way, Shafter, CA 93263.