Notes:
Data source is Mary Moomau Clark - Deceased
HARRISONBURG - Hunter Moomau Leach, 88, a longtime resident of Leesburg and lifelong Presbyterian, died peacefully before dawn Friday, May 11, 2007, at Sunnyside Retirement Home in Harrisonburg. Born Nov. 24, 1918, in Greenbank, Pocohantas County, W.Va., Mr. Leach was the only son of the Rev. Harold Houston Leach, a Presbyterian minister, and Nancy Boone Moomau Leach.
Entering college as a member of 1940, he received a bachelor of science degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1947, where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. World War II interrupted his studies, and between 1941 and 1948, he served in the Air Corps of the United States Army as a bombsight mechanic and flight instructor, obtaining the rank of technical sergeant. During the war, he flew missions in the European air offensive and was awarded the American Defense Ribbon and EAME ribbon with six bronze stars.
He married Marianna Jamison in 1951 during a ceremony conducted by the fathers of the bride and groom in Staunton. Mrs. Leach, his devoted wife of nearly 56 years, survives him. Also surviving are his daughter, Mary Hunter Leach of Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii, and his son, William Chalmers Leach of Smith Mountain Lake. Other survivors are his sister-in-law, Eleanor Jamison Supple of Staunton and her husband, Sidney Supple, who was a groomsman in the Leach wedding.
In 1955, Mr. Leach moved to Leesburg, where he resided until January 2006 and worked as a claims adjuster for Nationwide Insurance Company for nearly 30 years. He served as deacon, elder, clerk of the session and Sunday school teacher at Leesburg Presbyterian Church. He would regularly visit the sick with some cheer and mentored young people of all persuasions. After his retirement, he enjoyed substituting at Loudoun County High School, where his wife chaired the English department. In recent years, he also attended Faith Chapel in Lucketts.
Mr. Leach was elected to Leesburg Town Council to serve from 1957 to 1961, the latter portion of which he served as mayor of the newly growing Leesburg. He later served a partial term on council in 1987 to 1988. He was a member and chairman of the planning commission from 1963 to 1983. He was also an active member of the Loudoun County Commission on Aging, which developed the Leesburg and Cascades senior centers and Respite Center-Adult Day Care Facility. It was also the fulfillment of a life dream that he assisted in the development of Ida Lee Recreation Center.
One of Mr. Leach's favorite hobbies was photography. He was a member of Old Dominion Photography Club in Washington, D.C., and conducted several shows throughout Loudoun County, helping to capture the essence of living in Loudoun in the 1960s and 1970s. Plans are being developed with Thomas Balch Library to create a showcase of his surviving work. Devoting his leisure time to his family, Mr. Leach also enjoyed voracious reading, writing letters to family, friends and acquaintances, playing bridge with his wife and friends. He created summers full of water skiing and fun with family and friends.
Two memorial services will be conducted. The first will be at 11 a.m. today, May 15, 2007, at Meredith Chapel at Sunnyside Retirement Community in Harrisonburg with a short reception to follow. The second will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, 2007, at Leesburg Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent either to Leesburg Presbyterian Church, 207 W. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176 or to Sunnyside Communities Fellowship Fund (Memo Designation: Sunnyside), 600-L University Blvd., Harrisonburg, VA 22801-3763.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.henryfuneralhome.net.
Henry Funeral Home of Staunton is assisting the family, along with many beloved friends.