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Leonard Leftwich

December 9, 2017
Kalamazoo, MI

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Mr. Leonard R. "Roy" Leftwich, age 85, of Kalamazoo, MI died Saturday morning December 9, 2017 after a short stay at Rose Arbor Hospice. Roy was born June 10, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, son of Leonard and Eva (Haney) Leftwich. He graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit and served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He and his family moved from Roseville MI, near Detroit, to Kalamazoo in 1964 and lived for many years near Spring Valley Park in Kalamazoo. Roy sold industrial pumps for Kerr Machinery for 40 years, retiring in 1997. During most of that time his sales route allowed him to stop at thrift stores and junk shops in small towns throughout SW Michigan and the surrounding states. He loved to pick up collectibles and other items that struck his eye. After his retirement he was a fixture at the Kalamazoo Flea Market where he did on-the-spot watch repair for many years. He and wife Delores were very involved in Stockbridge United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts, the Kalamazoo Nature Center and other volunteer efforts. He loved to sail and was an avid runner for many years; as an enthusiastic photographer, he was a long-time member of the Kalamazoo Camera Club. Roy was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters, Billy and Nettie. On November 25, 1955, he married Delores V. (Etter) Leftwich, whom he met at church camp. She survives, along with their 3 children: Amy (David) Lehr; Kirk (Carson) Leftwich, all of Kalamazoo, and Kerry (Christina) Leftwich of Gobles; 7 grandchildren: David Leftwich; Chelsea Leftwich; Joseph Lehr; John Leftwich; Mary Leftwich Johnson; Brenden Leftwich and Kathleen "Katie" Leftwich; 7 great-grandchildren; a sister, Norma "Diane" Elliott of Brighton, MI; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 12 noon Saturday, January 20th at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. Private burial will take place and Roy's loving family will plant a tree to honor his memory. Contributions in his memory may be directed to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. Please visit Roy's personalized webpage to view his online guestbook, or to leave a condolence message for the family. Arrangements were made by the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St.