Ralph E. Leach

Ralph E. Leach, 95, of Port Orange, FL, passed away in his sleep at his home early Sunday morning, August 27, 2017, after several months of failing health. Ralph was born in Lawrence, MA on February 12, 1922 to Henry and Mary (Ritter) Leach. He graduated from Lawrence High School and attended Lawrence Street Congregational Church where he met his first wife, Dorothy (Pearson). After high school, he joined the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. He was serving as a chief radio operator aboard The USS West Virginia when the torpedoes struck. After WWII, he worked for AT&T, raising a growing family in Salem and Portsmouth NH. He became widowed and then married Patricia (Brady) and adopted her son Michael. He retired from AT&T and moved to FL in 1979. They joined White Chapel Church, which was central to their well-being and spiritual growth. Aside from church work , Ralph spent his time making pottery, creating stained glass lamps and crosses, reading and writing and using his computer and iPad until the day he died. He was a true handyman at heart. Honest and disciplined to a fault, he was and will always be remembered as a good and loyal man to his family and friends. He is survived by his sons Thomas Leach (Carol Alice), Richard Leach (Linda), Douglas Leach (Rebecca Penney),and daughter Carol Leach, his daughter in law Phyllis, 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his 2 wives, son Michael, sister Ruth (Elmer) and parents.

A memorial service will take place Friday Feb.9th at 11:00am at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 N. Nova Rd., Ormond Beach, FL. Inurnment and U.S. Navy honors will follow services at Volusia Memorial Park, Ormond Beach. Condolences may be expressed online by visiting www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com