Marion Barber Leach

LEACH, Marion Barber
Of Aiken, SC
Formerly of Galesburg Mrs. Leach, 106, passed peacefully on June 1, 2008 at the residence of her son, Phillip Leach in Aiken, SC. She was born December 30, 1901 in Galesburg and was the daughter of the late Frederick and Bessie Bishop Barber. A teacher, she received a BA in Education from Western Michigan University and an MA from the University of Michigan. She taught for 30 years in the Kalamazoo Public Schools retiring in 1964. Marion was a life member of the following professional organizations: MEA, NEA and the Kalamazoo Retired School Personnel. She held local as well as state offices and always worked toward improving the status of the teaching profession. She was married for 53 years to her beloved husband, Francis Edward Leach, who predeceased her in 1977. During their years together they enjoyed many hobbies, especially traveling throughout the USA and all over the world. They made 16mm movies and 35mm slides of their travels which they shared with friends and various organizations in the Kalamazoo area and in Aiken where she had resided for the past 15 years. In their later years, they traveled in their motor home on rock hunting expeditions. Francis cut and polished stones and made beautiful stone jewelry that Marion proudly wore until her passing. Marion was predeceased by her two daughters, Francis Anne and Nancy Jane and her three sisters, Margaret Kirby, Marjorie Fox, and Bernice Force. She will be greatly missed by her son Phillip Kay of Aiken; four grandchildren, David, Debbie Port Angeles, WA, Kim Fanter, St Louis MO, Wendy Leach, Fairbanks, AK, Cody Leach, Aiken; three great granddaughters, Casey & Kelly Fanter and Chloe Leach. Memorial services for Mrs. Leach will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 11:00 AM St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. NW, Aiken, SC, with the Rev. George Howle officiating. The family will receive friends following the Memorial Service at the church. Private interment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that memorial donations be made to St. John's United Methodist Church or to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 946 Millbrook Ave., Aiken, SC 29803.