Tuesday, March 19, 2024

William Robert “Bob” Leib, 97, of Newport News

William Robert “Bob” Leib (Weymouth Funeral Home)

Visitation: 11:00 – 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 3, 2022

Location: Weymouth Funeral Home, 12746 Nettles Dr, Newport News, VA 23606

Memorial Service: 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 3, 2022

Location: Weymouth Funeral Home

Interment: Private 

Location: Peninsula Memorial Park

The service will be streaming on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/954285422617597/

On Friday, November 25, William Robert (Bob) Leib, 97, went home peacefully to join Soso, the love of his life, and their daughter, Lee Ann Leib Smith. Born to Clair & Inis Leib in 1925, he grew up on the family farm in Edna, Kansas. He and his older brother, Raymond, both served in WWII, where Bob earned the Purple Heart.

After the war, he landed in Owensboro KY to work at General Electric. He met, fell in love with, and married Helen Reid Best in 1951.  Bob’s job brought the family to upstate NY for 7 years. In 1969, GE moved their growing family to Newport News VA.

Bob loved his family, he was devoted to them and was a man of great faith. He was a proud grandfather and great grandfather.

Bob was a giver. He gave his time, his talents and his love of God every day of his life. He served his church, and his community. He volunteered at Camp Rainbow Connection, for multiple summers, working with Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. He was a proud and active member of Christ United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir, was on the finance committee, and actively participated in the United Methodist Men. He loved gardening, was a master woodworker, and an avid reader. Over the years, he perfected the ginger snap cookie to the delight of his family.

It should also be known that Bob was a proud Boy Scout Leader. That adventurous spirit continued throughout his life. At the age of 80, Bob and his longtime friend, Bill Banks, took a whitewater rafting trip through the Grand Canyon!

He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Helen Reid and their oldest daughter, Lee Ann Smith. Bob is survived by a son, Rick (Lori) Leib of Newport News, VA; daughters, Julia (David) Helveston of Newport News, VA and Liz (Teri Andrews) Leib of Washington, NC; son -in- law, Jay Smith of Free Union, VA; eight grandchildren, Lynsey Leib (Ben Preston) of Richmond, VA, Katlyn (Sam) Catron of Wenatchee, WA, Taylor (Courtney) Smith of Charlottesville, VA, Caitlin Helveston of Chesapeake, VA, Tyler Leib of Richmond, VA, Aaron (Casey) Helveston of Virginia Beach, VA, Jessica Smith of Charlottesville, VA, and Zach Amos of Aldie, VA and three great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express our gratitude to Nurse Next Door and their loving staff. We will never forget the loving kindness shown to our Dad by caregivers, Marketha Miller, LaToya Carter & Meggie Lewell.

We would also like to express our thanks for the loving care from the Heartland Hospice team.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Weymouth Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be private at Peninsula Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please send your donations to Christ UMC at 133 Deep Creek Road, Newport News, VA 23606 or Camp Rainbow at https://vaumc.org/crc/ or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.

Related Articles

MORE FROM AUTHOR