Robert H. Leach Sr.

Carolina, his birthplace and home in his final years.

Bob was born April 17,1919 and grew up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. After graduating from High School in 1936, he worked in retail sales in Wilson NC until 1942, when he entered the US Army during World War II. He was stationed at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, where he met his future wife, Frances Barnett , on a visit to Evansville. Assigned to Second Battalion, 389th Infantry, 98th Division, he served as a Staff Sergeant in the Pacific Theatre of Operations in the Hawaiian Islands and Osaka Japan during the Army’s occupation in September 1945. When the war ended, Bob wed Frances in 1946. They were married for 60 years until her death in 2006. He joined Eastern Airlines the same year and became the Tri-State Sales Manager until 1962. When offered a transfer in 1962 to Eastern’s Washington DC offices, Bob and Frances decided that their roots in Evansville ran too deep for them to leave. For the next twenty years, Bob was employed by National City Bank in their downtown Evansville Office where he became Vice President of Marketing. Bob Leach was a strong believer in giving back to the community some of the benefits and successes he had enjoyed. Throughout his career in Evansville, Bob served actively as an officer or board member of many community organizations including; Chairman of the Aviation Committee of Evansville Chamber of Commerce, Public Relations Chairman of United Way, President of Downtown Kiwanis Club of Evansville, Vice President of Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Heart Association, President of Goodwill Industries, Vice Chairman of American Red Cross, President of Evansville Press Club,

and President of Advertising Club of Evansville, Before his retirement in 1983, he also served as a member of

Evansville Clearing House Association, Indiana Bankers Association, Independent Bankers Association of Indiana, as well as many fund-raising activities for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, and Evansville Boy’s Club. He was a life member of the VFW, and a member of the Evansville Country Club and Evansville Kennel Club. What most will remember about Bob Leach was his booming voice and inspirational singing. For many years, Bob sang in choirs at Olivet Presbyterian Church and Old North Methodist Church. His love of music was his passion and his pastime. He was a collector of hundreds of recordings of Big Band Era music and listened to them until his death.

Bob is survived by; his son, Robert II, and his wife, Jane, of Southport, NC, Sister, Elizabeth Hardison, and her husband, David, of Falls Church, VA, Daughter in-Law, Deborah Leach, of Evansville, and Grandsons; Graham Leach of Culver City , CA, Adam Leach of Cary, NC, Colin Leach, of El Paso, TX, and Andrew Leach of Evansville, IN. He also had two Great-Grandchildren, Vivian and Julian Leach. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances, his son, Richard, and his brother, Roy.

A Memorial Service will be held in Evansville at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, 1414 Physicians Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401or online at www.lcfhfoundation.org

Online condolences are encouraged and may be offered at www.whitefuneralservicesupply.com

White Funeral & Cremation Service, Bolivia/Supply Chapel