Walter Alfred Leyland, Jr.

Walter A. Leyland, Jr., Walt, Dad, Gramps, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 after bravely living with Dementia/Parkinson's Disease. His wife Shirley Jane Lucy Leyland was at his side at Windsor Meade in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was 80 years old. He was born in Newport News, Virginia, to Eunice Bassett Leyland and Walter Alfred Leyland, who have preceded him in death. His younger brother Thomas also preceded him in death. It is appropriate Walt passed on Pi Day since he was a strong math and science student at Newport News High School. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of William and Mary and then a Master of Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute - V.P.I. (as he would say). He also received a Master's Degree in Management Science from Lehigh University. Walt worked at the Newport News Shipyard, taught at Hampden-Sydney College, worked for Spindle Top Research in Kentucky, the Naval Air Development Center (NADC) in Pennsylvania and Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland. Walt, Shirley, and their two children spent most of their life as a family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Walt enjoyed time spent with family and friends, traveling, boating, sailing, bowling, model airplanes, an occasional snow skiing trip and turning the handle to make homemade ice cream. He was a faithful member of and served many years in the local United Methodist Church, the last one being Williamsburg UMC. He is remembered fondly for his love of science, his sense of humor, and his sayings like "Golly Pete" and "Hot Dog". Walt is survived by wife, Shirley; his daughter, Stephanie Leyland McClain and husband, Bryan of White Stone, VA; his son, Stephen Heath Leyland and wife, Lisa of Telford, PA; and five grandchildren, Nancy-Jane McClain, Erin-Darby McClain, John-Liam McClain, William Leyland and Tyler Leyland. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 or to Friends of Piney Point Museum, 38370 Point Breeze Road, Colton's Point, MD 20626. A celebration of Walt’s life will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, March 25, at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at 3:00 pm in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 2700 Parish Ave, Newport News, VA 23607. Friends are encouraged to visit: http://www.parklawn-woodfh.com to view pictures and to share memories and words of condolence with the family. Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666.