Charles Douglas Leavell

Charles Douglas Leavell was born on November 26, 1934 to the Rev. Charles Grubbs and Mary Lilian McMurdo Leavell at Martha Jefferson Hospital, near family ancestral home of Buena Vista farm in Charlottesville, Virginia. He died the day after his 88th birthday, November 27, 2022, surrounded by his family at his home in Augusta County, Virginia.

Doug attended schools in Norton, Virginia, Morgantown, North Carolina and Charlottesville, Virginia as his father served various parishes. He attended Episcopal High and the University of Virginia before serving in Germany. He earned his BS and MA from VCU.

As a youth, he was taught to sail at a family camp in upper New York and this became a life passion as he sailed the Atlantic seaboard and extensively in the Chesapeake and Penobscot Bays. He was also a lifelong cyclist and inveterate collector of cars. These interests only took second place in middle age when he was stunned by his delight in his daughter.

When asked his profession in his later years, Doug would respond real estate. Indeed, his involvement in rehabbing some rental property was a constant. It was also easier than mentioning his many other pursuits. He was, among other things, a salesman for Exxon, consulted to municipalities on water filtration products, Acting Executive Director of Goodwill Richmond, Executive Director of District 19 Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services in southern Virginia, and General Manager of a 33 mile long railroad. He belonged to Ruritan in Petersburg, Virginia. In Belfast, Maine he was a Rotarian, served as an Associate Planning Board Member and on the MSAD 34 School Board for a decade. The Lion’s Club and HOPE were his civic involvements while living in Plymouth, North Carolina.

His death came from complications after a 20 year adaptation to living without a stomach after gastric cancer.

He is survived by his wife, companion and oft time caregiver Soni Leavell of Waynesboro, Virginia, his daughter Virginia Leavell and her family of Charlottesville, his sister Mary Aston Shackelford of Stony Point, his brothers John Leavell of Charlottesville and Hugh Leavell of Staunton, a son in spirit Alex Schult of Onancock, and extensive extended family.

A service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Simeon at 1333 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville on January 14, 2023 at 11am with all invited to lunch following in the fellowship hall.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad at 828 McIntire Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902 or at www.rescue1.org.

Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com