Obituary for Richard A. Leh
Richard A. Leh, 91, of Allentown, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Allentown. He was the loving husband of Merle A. (Stauffer) Leh, sharing 68 years of marriage. For most of their married life, he and his wife resided in a home they built in 1951 in rural Zionsville.
Born in Emmaus, he was the son of the late Ralph and Ella (Lesher) Leh.
Richard was a 1947 graduate of Emmaus High School and studied chemistry for one year at Muhlenberg College. He was employed at Bally Engineered Structures (formerly Bally Case and Cooler) for his entire career, first as a ceramic engineer and then later holding several positions in inventory and supply logistics.
He was a faithful member of Salem United Methodist Church (Upper Milford Township) for 68 years, where he held many positions throughout the years including Sunday School teacher, various Treasurer positions, member of the Administrative Board, and member of the Cemetery Association. Richard and his wife were founding members of Stahl’s Pottery Preservation Society Inc. where he served as a tireless volunteer for over 30 years.
Richard loved his family and enjoyed every family gathering. He was always willing to extend a helping hand whether to family, friends, and his community. Richard always enjoyed tinkering with mechanical and electrical devices, whether it was cars, clocks, lawn mowers, appliances, or lamps. He embraced modern technology and took pride in learning to use his computer for recordkeeping and writing poetry. He especially liked playing with his grandchildren and fixing remote control toys he found at yard sales for them. He also enjoyed watching cartoons and children’s movies with them, recording many VHS tapes before there were DVDs and Netflix.
He was proud of his civic duty and received an award from both the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives inducting him into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame for having voted in at least fifty consecutive November elections.
Surviving along with his wife are his five children, Daryl Leh and wife, Anne, of Alburtis, Clellen Leh and wife, Rhoda, of Towanda, Kerwin Leh and wife, Ellen, of Pennsburg, Joel Leh and wife, Nancy, of Macungie, and Christa DeMenno and husband, Richard, of Bechtelsville; seven grandchildren, Kyle Leh and wife, Brittany, Amanda Kane and husband, Justin, Whitney Beshore and husband, Brendan, Victoria Leh, Grace DeMenno, Alaina DeMenno, and Richard DeMenno; and four great-grandchildren, Elijah Leh and Madilynn, Ryan and Makenzie Kane.
He is predeceased by his brothers Ralph and Robert Leh and his sister, Florence Smoyer.
Due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to inform you that the date for public calling hours and celebration of Richard’s life will be postponed to a later date. Once a date has been determined we will make every effort to provide adequate notice to all. Arrangements entrusted to Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home, 222 Washington St., East Greenville, PA 18041. Offer sympathy to the family at www.mannslonakerfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Salem United Methodist Church, 6440 Powder Valley Road, Zionsville, PA 18092.
Born in Emmaus, he was the son of the late Ralph and Ella (Lesher) Leh.
Richard was a 1947 graduate of Emmaus High School and studied chemistry for one year at Muhlenberg College. He was employed at Bally Engineered Structures (formerly Bally Case and Cooler) for his entire career, first as a ceramic engineer and then later holding several positions in inventory and supply logistics.
He was a faithful member of Salem United Methodist Church (Upper Milford Township) for 68 years, where he held many positions throughout the years including Sunday School teacher, various Treasurer positions, member of the Administrative Board, and member of the Cemetery Association. Richard and his wife were founding members of Stahl’s Pottery Preservation Society Inc. where he served as a tireless volunteer for over 30 years.
Richard loved his family and enjoyed every family gathering. He was always willing to extend a helping hand whether to family, friends, and his community. Richard always enjoyed tinkering with mechanical and electrical devices, whether it was cars, clocks, lawn mowers, appliances, or lamps. He embraced modern technology and took pride in learning to use his computer for recordkeeping and writing poetry. He especially liked playing with his grandchildren and fixing remote control toys he found at yard sales for them. He also enjoyed watching cartoons and children’s movies with them, recording many VHS tapes before there were DVDs and Netflix.
He was proud of his civic duty and received an award from both the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives inducting him into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame for having voted in at least fifty consecutive November elections.
Surviving along with his wife are his five children, Daryl Leh and wife, Anne, of Alburtis, Clellen Leh and wife, Rhoda, of Towanda, Kerwin Leh and wife, Ellen, of Pennsburg, Joel Leh and wife, Nancy, of Macungie, and Christa DeMenno and husband, Richard, of Bechtelsville; seven grandchildren, Kyle Leh and wife, Brittany, Amanda Kane and husband, Justin, Whitney Beshore and husband, Brendan, Victoria Leh, Grace DeMenno, Alaina DeMenno, and Richard DeMenno; and four great-grandchildren, Elijah Leh and Madilynn, Ryan and Makenzie Kane.
He is predeceased by his brothers Ralph and Robert Leh and his sister, Florence Smoyer.
Due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to inform you that the date for public calling hours and celebration of Richard’s life will be postponed to a later date. Once a date has been determined we will make every effort to provide adequate notice to all. Arrangements entrusted to Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home, 222 Washington St., East Greenville, PA 18041. Offer sympathy to the family at www.mannslonakerfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Salem United Methodist Church, 6440 Powder Valley Road, Zionsville, PA 18092.