Leslie Phelps Newton PhD

Dr. Leslie Phelps Newton, (NCSU), 60, of Knightdale, passed away unexpectedly on June 1, 2018. Leslie was born on November 16, 1957 in Asheville, NC. She attended North Carolina State University where she received her BS, MS and PhD. As a forest entomologist, she worked as a Risk Analyst for the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services.

Leslie was an avid reader who also loved to garden and to be outdoors in nature. She loved tending to and being surrounded by flowers. She loved to travel with her husband, Jim and her kids. She truly enjoyed being with her family and those close to her heart, and used her artistic nature to always make crafts and gifts for them. Leslie was an intellectual woman, with a kind and gentle nature. She had a knack for focusing on the truth and what really mattered, instead of the noise most of us spend time worrying about.

Leslie is survived by her husband, Jim Newton; mother, Charlotte Paden (David); children, Christopher James Newton (Dr. Lisa Wiltron) and James Cameron Newton; God children, Britt Hart and Shon Price; grandchildren, Kiera Sage Newton and Connor Owen Newton; grand God children, Aiden Hart and Landon Hart; siblings, Sherrie Storm, Cathie Phelps, Bobby Phelps and Cyndi Budacz; sister-in-law, Rayetta N. Rodemaker ( Rod); and a host of nieces, nephews, other loved ones and family. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Phelps.

A visitation will be Tuesday, June 5 from 6:00-8:00pm at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. A funeral mass will be Wednesday, June 6 at 1:00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2718 Overbrook Road, Raleigh, with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery.