Bassett Family Association Database

Walter Alfred Leyland, Jr.

Male 1936 - 2017  (80 years)

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  • Name Walter Alfred Leyland 
    Suffix Jr. 
    Birth 16 Sep 1936  Newport News, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID F876DCC1C5C1F14790030FF8A3714D2CF01B 
    Death 14 Mar 2017 
    Notes 
    • Daily Press, March 19, 2017
      Walter A. Leyland Jr. (Picture included)

      WILLIAMSBURG - Walter A. Leyland, Jr., Walt, Dad, Gramps, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 after bravely living with Dementia/Parkinson's Disease. His wife Shirley Jane Lucy Leyland was at his side at Windsor Meade in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was 80 years old. He was born in Newport News, Virginia, to Eunice Bassett Leyland and Walter Alfred Leyland, who have preceded him in death. His younger brother Thomas also preceded him in death. It is appropriate Walt passed on Pi Day since he was a strong math and science student at Newport News High School. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of William and Mary and then a Master of Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute - V.P.I. (as he would say). He also received a Master's Degree in Management Science from Lehigh University. Walt worked at the Newport News Shipyard, taught at Hampden-Sydney College, worked for Spindle Top Research in Kentucky, the Naval Air Development Center (NADC) in Pennsylvania and Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland. Walt, Shirley, and their two children spent most of their life as a family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Walt enjoyed time spent with family and friends, traveling, boating, sailing, bowling, model airplanes, an occasional snow skiing trip and turning the handle to make homemade ice cream. He was a faithful member of and served many years in the local United Methodist Church, the last one being Williamsburg UMC. He is remembered fondly for his love of science, his sense of humor, and his sayings like "Golly Pete" and "Hot Dog". Walt is survived by wife Shirley; his daughter Stephanie Leyland McClain & husband, Bryan of White Stone, VA; his son Stephen Heath Leyland & wife, Lisa of Telford, PA and five grandchildren, Nancy-Jane McClain, Erin-Darby McClain, John-Liam McClain, William Leyland and Tyler Leyland. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 or to Friends of Piney Point Museum, 38370 Point Breeze Road, Colton's Point, MD 20626. A celebration of Walt's life will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, March 25, at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at 3:00 pm in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 2700 Parish Ave, Newport News, VA 23607. Friends are encouraged to visit: http://www.parklawn-woodfh.com to view pictures and to share memories and words of condolence with the family. Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666.
    Person ID I416  9B Thomas Washington Bassett of Virginia
    Last Modified 17 Mar 2017 

    Father Walter Alfred Leyland,   b. 26 Dec 1903, Bellfast, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Eunice Louise Bassett,   b. 8 Mar 1909, Carrollton, Isle of Wight Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Dec 2002, James River Convalescent Center, Newport News, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 93 years) 
    Marriage 24 Jun 1933  Williamsburg, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F120  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Shirley 
    Family ID F173  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart