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Sonny Simpkins, 84, real-estate pro

LEONARD WARREN Simpkins Jr. would be cooking a meal or riding in his car and the muted trumpet of Miles Davis would be filling the air with jazz.

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LEONARD WARREN Simpkins Jr. would be cooking a meal or riding in his car and the muted trumpet of Miles Davis would be filling the air with jazz.

Leonard was a big jazz fan and the late trumpeter was his favorite, although he also dug John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery and Charlie Parker, among others.

And he didn't just listen to their music. He had firm opinions about the artists - which ones were the best and why, which ones mediocre - as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of their work.

Leonard Simpkins, known to family and friends as Sonny, a 30-year employee of the old Frankford Arsenal and a successful real estate broker, died Oct. 7. He was 84 and lived in Wynnefield.

"He was a hard-working family man," said his son, Leonard Simpkins III. "He was always there for us."

Leonard was born in Philadelphia the oldest of the seven children of Leonard Warren Simpkins Sr. and the former Marion Saunders. He graduated from Overbrook High School and attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

He worked a number of jobs, including at the Valley Forge Hospital before going to the Frankford Arsenal. He retired as an equal opportunity officer in 1988, and started his real-estate business, One Stop Realty in West Philadelphia.

Another passion of Leonard's was the Masons. He was a member of St. John Lodge 44 and DeMolay Consistory No. 1, where he earned 32nd degree status. In 1989 he was awarded the honorary 33rd degree rank.

Leonard got real-estate experience with the Walter Banton, John Hawkins and Warner Whiting Realty as a part-time salesman while working at the Frankford Arsenal.

"He was an amazing and energetic broker who spawned many other salespersons and brokers. Because of his honesty and hard work, he became a successful real estate entrepreneur," his family said.

Leonard enjoyed being with friends and family and one of his favorite pastimes was pinochle. In fact, he liked to say he put the "P" in pinochle.

In 1965, he married Lucille Aunding.

"During the long marriage, there were happy times and wonderful memories the family can share and relive for coming generations," his family said.

"Belief in God, always present in the home, is credited as the source of the many fond family memories. Sonny will surely be missed but never forgotten."

Leonard was a news junkie, reading newspapers, including the Daily News, to keep up with current events.

His daughter, Terri Lynn Pinckney, named a son Miles in tribute to her father's passion for Miles Davis.

Besides his wife, son and daughter, he is survived by three brothers, John Paul Simpkins, Stanley A. Simpkins and Alfred D. Simpkins; two sisters, Marion A. Thomas and Fern D. Rogers, and three grandchildren.

Services: Were Saturday. Burial was in Merion Memorial Park, Bala Cynwyd.