James William Leach III

Bill’s family will receive friends and extended family at a Visitation on Sunday, May 11, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Rd, Stafford, Virginia 22554. A Mass of Christian burial will occur Monday, May 12, 2025, at 10:30 AM at St. William of York Catholic Church, 3130 Emancipation Highway, Stafford, VA. An interment will take place on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 12:30 PM at the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA.

Mr. Leach was preceded in death by his parents, James William Leach, Jr., and Helen Bertha Nugent; multiple aunts and uncles; and one niece, Allie May Knowles.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Catherine Lynn Knowles; his three children, Andrew Nordby and wife, Heather, of Castle Rock, Colorado, James Matthew Leach of Stafford County, VA, and Shane Aaron Leach of Fredericksburg, VA; two brothers, Michael Kevin Leach and wife Mary of Hampstead, MD, and Thomas Leach of Florida; one grandchild, Willow Ann Leach; two nieces (Jennifer and Hannah), and five nephews (Christopher, Bobby, Charles, Paul, and Ryan).

Mr. Leach was born and raised in the Baltimore, MD, area. He was a 1967 graduate of Parkville Senior High School. Mr. Leach qualified for preparatory school for West Point but chose to go to Vietnam. After leaving the Army in December 1974, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and in October 1976 entered the Civil Service working for the Army as a Supply Specialist, then as an Inspector, and later on as Chief of the Command’s Surety Office. He retired in November 2007 having traveled all over the world over the course of his career. In September 2008 he began his first battle with cancer, then two more battles with different cancers over the following years.

Bill was an Orioles and Ravens fan, collected baseball cards, enjoyed researching the genealogy of his family, and had a passion for automobiles. He was a memorable person and will be sorely missed by his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests/prefers a donation in the deceased name to Tunnel to Towers, St. Jude's, Samaritan's Purse, or the American Cancer Society.