Laurell Leitch

Laurell E. "Tuney" Leitch, 82, a resident of rural LaOtto and a lifelong resident of Green Township, passed away at 12:32 p. m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne following an extended illness.e He had been admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. Mr. Leitch was born on December 15, 1929 in Kendallville, a son of Noah T. and Edna (Diffendarfer) Leitch.e At age two he moved with his parents to a farm in Green Township in Noble County which has now been in the family for over 150 years.e He spent his formative years there, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1948. As a young man he served with the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict.e On September 29, 1956 he was married in Whitley County to Mary Ann Murphy, and continued to live on the family farm his entire lifetime, where he engaged in farming. He was also employed at International Harvester in Fort Wayne for 30 years, retiring from there in 1981.e Following his work there, he was employed at J. C. Manufacturing in North Webster for 13 years. He was a member of the Green Center United Methodist Church, where he had served in a variety of capacities over the years. In addition to his work and church activities, he enjoyed farming, reading, history, and most especially loved and cherished his family. The surviving relatives include his wife Mary Ann, to whom he was married for over 56 years; a son Kevin (Beth) Leitch of Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico; two daughters Carmen Fitzpatrick of Churubusco and Jeri (Todd) Crance of LaOtto; a sister Marie (Robert B.) Strater of Kendallville; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Vern Allen Leitch; and by a sister Vera Applegate. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Monday, December 17, 2012, at the Green Center United Methodist Church with Pastors Nancy and Austin Fergusson, officiating. The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco from 2 to 6 p. m. on Sunday, or at the church one hour prior to the service Monday morning. Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Green Center United Methodist Church, or to the donor's choice. ******************************************* To leave an online condolence for the family in Mr. Leitch's memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .