John Leach

John Robert “Bob” Leach, 86, of Burlington went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, February 21, 2020.  He was born February 16, 1934 in Iredell County to the late Thomas Calvin and Adelle Campbell Leach of Statesville.  He was the husband of Nancy Kirby Leach, the love of his life.  They recently celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Mr. Leach was a member of the 1952 graduating class of Central High School in Iredell County where he was selected to the All County basketball team.  He served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman before continuing his education, graduating from Gardner Webb Jr. College and Elon College.  While in college he became the first Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Graham, N.C.

Mr. Leach was a retired teacher, coach and administrator with the Alamance County Schools.  He was employed there for thirty years.  Mr. Leach loved children and spent most of his career teaching at the middle school level.  He was a loving mentor and dedicated teacher and coach.  Many former students remember him as their favorite.  Every time he went into the community students greeted him with hugs and special memories.  He was loved for his calm demeanor, witty sense of humor and enthusiastic love of sports.  His influence is far reaching.  Both daughters and a granddaughter followed in his footsteps and became educators as well.

Mr. Leach was a member of Berea Christian Church where he served as a Deacon and attended for over 50 years.  He was also a member of the AO Civitan Club and three senior golf associations in Alamance County.

He and his wife Nancy enjoyed a wonderful retirement.  They were together constantly.  They loved to go to the beach, read and relax.  They enjoyed traveling and were fortunate enough to have visited every state in the continental USA.  But what he loved most was spending time with his family.    He especially enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren.

Bob Leach was a beloved husband, Daddy and Paw Paw.  He was a very special person and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Phyllis and her husband Hugh Fields of Burlington, daughter Suzanne and her husband Marty Umbaugh of Wilmington; grandchildren Amanda Grace Fields, Bailey Marie Umbaugh and Kyle David Umbaugh.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Hal Thomas Leach.

The funeral will be held Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 2 o’clock at Berea Christian Church and the burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Lowe Funeral Home & Crematory on Friday, February, 28, 2020 from 5 to 7 PM and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Berea Christian Church, 2848 Old NC 87, Elon NC 27244 or Hospice of Alamance-Caswell 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to a charity of one’s choice.