Marion George Leiby, 85

CENTREVILLE, Md. - Marion George Leiby, of Centreville, died on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, in Chester River Hospital Center, Chestertown. He was 85.

Born Dec. 9, 1922, he was the son and the youngest child of eight of Edward Daniel and Gertrude Marion White Leiby.

He graduated from Church Hill High School in the class of 1940, he then attended Salisbury State Teachers College for one year.

Mr. Leiby later took additional college courses at Chesapeake College and Charles County Community College.

He was adjunct instructor in engineering at Chesapeake College and the evening reference desk librarian from 1968-1975 at Chesapeake College.

During World War II he served in the Pacific Theatre as a medic eventually ending his tour of duty in occupied Japan.

Mr. Leiby was wounded twice and received two Purple Heart awards and the Bronze Star.

He was assigned to the Illinois National Guard 130th Medical Regiment 33rd Division Regiment when it was activated in World War II because he was a medic.

On April 2, 1949, he married the former, Marian Belle Kendall of Kent County.

Mr. Leiby was a Certified Senior Engineering Technician in Soil Conservation Service, retiring after 40 years service in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

He was also a member of the Engineering Technicians Assoc. and the Retired Federal Employees Assoc. and a former member of the Board of Stewards and the official Board of the Centreville United Methodist Church where he served as Church School Secretary for more than 25 years.

Mr. Leiby earned his real estate License at Charles County Community College and worked with Wye Reality and then later Century 21 and also worked with both Cooper Barroll and Sam Martin Realty in Chestertown, specializing in Farm Sales and completed his career with Coldwell Banker.

He joined the Centreville Lions Club on April 2, 1963, and rose through all the offices in the Centreville Lions Club and was president from 1982-1983.

At the time of his death, he was the club's historian and had headed the used eyeglasses collection effort for 21 years.

He was a Melvin Jones Fellow, awarded by the Centreville Lions Club.

As a veteran, Mr. Leiby joined the American Legion in 1948 and rose through many offices culminating in the office of post commander of the Jeff Davis Post 18 American Legion and served many years as post adjutant and post service officer.

He was also vice commander of the North Eastern Sore District of the Department of Maryland of the American Legion and was elected to the 40/8 (Forty and Eight), the Honorary Fraternity of the American Legion.

Mr. Leiby was a member of the board of trustees at Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, near Centreville since 1983 as this was the Leiby family church.

He was appointed to the Upper Shore Health Planning Council by the Queen Anne's County Commissioners and served as representative of Queen Anne's County for 20 years.

Mr. Leiby was a Queen Anne's County 4-H All Star and worked many of the early years at the 4-H Park's existence with the Board at the 4-H Park.

He was also a lifetime member of the Queen Anne's County Historical Society.

In addition to his wife of 58 years, Mr. Leiby is survived by two sons, Arthur Daniel Leiby of Kennedyville, and Kevin Blair Leiby and his wife, Beverly of Wilmington, Del.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Centreville United Methodist Church, Centreville, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be at Church Hill Cemetery, Church Hill.

Memorial donations may be made to the Centreville Lions Club, Wilmer Eye Institute, P.O. Box 261, Centreville, MD 21617; or to the Jeff Davis Post 18, Nursing Scholarship, 2619 Centreville Road, Centreville, MD 21617.

Arrangements are by the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Centreville.