Lt. Col. Leslie R. Fels, 86

DOVER - Lt. Col. Leslie R. Fels (USAF-Retired), passed away in his home on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. He had been in declining health brought on by Alzheimer's for several years. He was 86. Leslie was born in West Union, Iowa, and he was the only child of the late Ray and Ruth (Crawford) Fels, life-long residents of Fayette County, Iowa. He graduated from West Union High School in 1940 and attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for several years before entering the U.S. Army Air Force as a B-29 navigator in 1943. Following World War II, he continued his flying service with the U.S. Air Force until his retirement as a C-5 navigator at Dover Air Force Base in 1973. He was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Vietnam War. Following his military service, Leslie spent 30 years as a retiree services volunteer at Dover AFB, served as a volunteer on the board of the Delaware State Ballet Company, and as a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church of Dover. He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, the former Joan Grigg Merry of Evanston, Ill.; sons, John and Mark, of Dover, and James of Bellingham, Wash.; daughters, Merry (Mrs. Neil) Scarborough, of Australia, and Elizabeth Fels of Springfield, Va.; and an adopted granddaughter, Sandra (Mrs. Joseph) Trenholm, of Panama City, Fla. Other surviving grandchildren are Jeffrey and Douglas Scarborough, and Holly Fels; and great-grandchildren, Colin and Cameron Trenholm. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church of Dover. Burial will be in Christ Church Cemetery, Dover. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Air Force Assistance Fund (www.afassistancefund.org); the Christ Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1374, Dover, DE 19903; or other charity of personal choice. Arrangements are by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc. Dover.