NORTH PORT, FLORIDA

Earle William Leaman, 87, of North Port, FL passed away July 16, 2012 at his home of natural causes. Earle was born in Philadelphia, PA on September 19, 1924, the son of the late Earle E. Leaman and Florence (Moore) Leaman. He was pre-deceased in 2009 by his wife of 54 years, Dale (Meilleur) Leaman.

Earle grew up in Wilmington, DE and attended Wilmington Public Schools. His college education was interrupted after one year when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. He served as a combat tank gunner with Co. A, 43rd Tank Battalion, 12th Armored Division and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Earle served the last four months of WWII as a POW in Follingbostel, Germany.

After discharge from the army, he returned to and graduated from the University of Delaware in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a past president of Theta Chi Fraternity. Earle then joined the Scott Paper Company, where for 32 years he held positions in Staff Engineering, Manufacturing, and Engineering Research. At retirement he held the position of Manager of Facilities Planning.

Earle and Dale then moved from Westtown, PA to Hartford, NY where Dale established a popular country decorating boutique (Country Warmth), which also featured her flower arranging talents. Also, Earle established a Business Services Office to assist local farms and businesses. After 23 years in Hartford, they retired to Florida where they built their home in the Bobcat Trail Golf and Country Club community.

During high school and college days, Earle was well-known as an accomplished classical trumpeter, and was a soloist with both school and college bands and the Delaware Allstate Concert Band. He also played in dance bands in the Wilmington and Philadelphia areas, he said, “to pay my fraternity dues”.

Earle was a licensed Lay Reader in the Episcopal Church and was a vestryman and delegate to the Pennsylvania Diocesan Convention.

Surviving are two sons, Steven E. Leaman of Salem, NY and Douglas R. Leaman of Kennett Square, PA. Also surviving is his sister, Lois L. Stehr of Palm Desert, CA. Other close relatives include his brothers and sisters-in-law, William J. and June (Bilodeau) Meilleur of Tucson, AZ and Ronald E. and Lorraine (Luciano) Jarvis of So. Glens Falls and many friends in Pennsylvania, New York and Florida.

Friends may call from 9:30am-10:30am on Friday, August 3, 2012 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main St., South Glens Falls. Funeral Services will follow at 10:30am Friday at the funeral home. Interment will follow the services at the Gerald B.H. Solomon, Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.

For online condolences and to view the Book of Memories, please visit our website at www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.

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