Leighton Paxton Stradley III

Leighton graduated from Radnor High School, in Pennsylvania in 1962, and the Phelps School in 1963. He graduated from West Chester State College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Planning. He was a member of the Geography Club.

Born with severe deafness, Leighton had unusual visual acuity inspiring his interest in maps and geography. This led him to the Defense Mapping Agency, in the Department of Defense. He started his career in the federal government as an Oceanographic Cartographer in 1974. There he created maps of the ocean floor for the Navy. One work assignment took him across the Indian Ocean onboard a specialized ship performing depth soundings. Leighton retired in 2017 from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

Leighton’s life was characterized by kindness, sports and a remarkable and enduring curiosity. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

He particularly enjoyed Scotland, where, exploring his heritage, he met relatives and visited ancestral homes. He was a member of the American Clan Gregor society acting as State Deputy Chieftain for the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.

He did not neglect his home country and visited most if not all of our states and National Parks. Summers always included visits with extended family on Pawleys Island, SC and the Outer Banks.

His curiosity led him to teach himself German and to sing for 50 years with the Washington Saengerbund. He enjoyed using other languages as well, often mixing them into conversation.

He was an inveterate back roader, always exploring a broader view which frequently went awry. But, as Mary would say “Not all those who wander are lost”!

Leighton was an active member of Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax Va for many decades. He and his late wife, Mary, participated in many activities at Truro and other organizations. Kind, considerate, and dependable in numerous caring ministries, Leighton would say “yes” to any request. He maintained a six person automobile for this purpose. A joyful, generous and guileless person, Leighton will be greatly missed.

Leighton was predeceased by his wife, Mary Tierney Stradley whom he married on April 29th 2000. She died February 10, 2023. He is survived by his sisters; Lynd Meyer, Judith Nelson (Travers), Virginia Jenks (Robert), his sister-in-law Elizabeth Hussey, and many nieces and nephews from his family and Mary’s. Also, his many cousins were close to his heart as he was to theirs. Leighton is also survived by his close companion, Elizabeth Duvall, with whom he was able to continue to enjoy many activities over the past year, including the Clan Gregor games in Virginia and Saengerbund concerts.

He was also predeceased by his and Mary’s cats, Mariel and Izzie.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to The Concord Club at saengerbund.org or Truro Anglican Church at truroanglican.com