Nancy P. Leach

The 2nd of four daughters, Nancy was born to Robert M. Pitts and Blanche Lee (nee Keech) Pitts in 1922 In Wheeling, West Virginia. She spent most of her youth in Charleston, WV, where she attended high school, belonged to the Rainbow Girls (Mason affiliate) and later worked for Carbide Chemical in a lab. She also worked and modeled for The Diamond Department Store in Charleston. After WWII, while attending a church social, she met her future husband, David T. Leach. They married and had two children; Nancy Carol and David Robert.

In 1956, Nancy and David and their kids moved to Tempe, AZ, where Nancy became employed almost immediately as a teller at the downtown Tempe branch of First National Bank of AZ. Nancy remained at that branch until her retirement (as a Customer Service Rep), although the bank became First Interstate, and eventually, Wells Fargo, and she became well-acquainted with many of the town residents and businesspeople. Although she always worked fulltime, she was very involved with her children’s activities, and at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, including serving on the altar guild. As the children left home, Nancy began to volunteer and was a valued member of the Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital auxiliary. One year, she was honored by the auxiliary in the annual fashion show fundraising event as a Woman of the Year (and once again was a model). Nancy was also nominated for a new City of Tempe Citizen Award, initiated in the 1980s, and was named the recipient that first year. She became active in P.E.O. and Tempe Women’s Club later in life and was active into her late 90’s.

Nancy was a real traveler, managing to go on more than twenty cruises, among other trips. She also maintained relationships with people from all her life experiences, attended all her high school reunions, and was a dedicated photo taker and album creator. The four Pitts sisters had close relationships, and they made efforts to make sure the 15 nieces and nephews knew each other through regular family reunions, no matter where each sister was living.

Nancy was a beloved person to just about everyone who knew her, and she is sorely missed.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, her husband David T. Leach, companion Kemper Goodwin, grandson Bryan D. Lesko, sisters Alice, Nellie and Peggy, nephews Doug Thorne and David Smith. She is survived by her daughter Nancy C. Lesko (Michael Quinlan), son David R. Leach (Katy), grandchildren Renee, David A., Nathaniel, and Laura; and great-grandchildren Joseph, Caleb, David D., Beatrice, Nancy K., Asher, Bonnie, Tallulah, Stella, Knighton and Kaber, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on the morning of Saturday, October 28, 2023 at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 1735 S. College Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 at 10am.