Leah Mae Postlewaite, 87, slipped quietly into the presence of her Lord Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, at her home in Virginia Beach. Born Oct. 25, 1929, in the Brushy Knob community outside Mountain Grove, Mo., she was the youngest child born to George and Oma (Ratterree) Scott.
Leah accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 10 and was baptized by her daddy in a creek during the cold month of December. She married her sweetheart, John J. Postlewaite, on Sept. 21, 1948, at the home of the Rev. Homer B. Smith near Mountain Grove. To this union, four children were born, Joseph LaVerne, Mary Susan, Samuel Jon and Leah Ruth.
Throughout the next 53 years, John and Leah ministered together in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Illinois. As a faithful pastor’s wife, Leah also helped her husband plant seven churches in the states of Washington and Oregon under the direction of Free Will Baptist Home Missions. In their retirement years, they enjoyed serving the Senior Citizens Ministry at First Free Will Baptist Church in Mountain Grove.
Leah was much more than a faithful and caring pastor’s wife. She was employed by a large insurance company in Portland, Ore., and the University Medical Center in Little Rock, Ark. She picked apples, cherries, strawberries and other fruits in Washington and Oregon. A talented singer and pianist, Leah was also skilled in sewing and crafts. Above all, Leah will be remembered for her love and devotion to her Lord, husband, children, family and countless friends.
Even in her later years, Leah fondly recalled names and memories from all the places she had lived and served. Only eternity will reveal how many lives were touched and influenced for Jesus because of the life of Leah Mae Postlewaite.
In addition to her parents and two infant brothers, Leah was preceded in death by John, her loving husband of 64 years; two brothers, the Rev. Adam Scott and the Rev. Ben Scott; and four sisters, Ina Edwards, Agnes Smith, Bessie Vandivort and Mary Halliburton.
She is survived by one sister, Daisy Lindsey (age 97) of Cabool, Mo.; four children, Joe (Pauline) Postlewaite of Florence, S.C.; Sue (Earl) Larson of Brentwood, Tenn., Sam (Diana) Postlewaite of Virginia Beach, Va., and Ruth (Donnie) McDonald of Tokyo, Japan; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express thanks to the people of Cross Timbers FWB Church in Nashville, Tenn., for ministering to Leah and John after they fully retired and moved in with Sue and Earl Larson from 2005 to 2010. Likewise, to Gateway FWB Church, Virginia Beach, for their love and support since 2010 when Leah and John came to live with Sam and Diana Postlewaite. The family also expresses our deep appreciation to Marlene Covington for providing loving care for Leah in Sam and Diana’s home since September of 2013, and to Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Mills for her excellent medical care for the past four years.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Gateway Free Will Baptist Church, 5473 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach. A memorial service will follow visitation at 7 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to honor Leah’s memory might consider making a donation in her name to FWB International Missions (McDonalds-Japan; Postlewaites-Bulgaria; Speers-Japan) or Houston Hurricane Relief Fund (Pastor Heath Ferguson).
Share online condolences with the family at altmeyerfh.com.
