Obituary of Noel L. Leathers

Dr. Noel L. Leathers fell asleep in the Lord January 28, 2013. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on January 14, 1924 to Ernest and Della Leathers. He attended the Ohio State University from 1941-1942. He served on Active duty as a Japanese Interpreter with the 4th U.S. Marine Division from 1942 to 1946. In 1946 he served in the Joint Intelligence Center under Admiral Nimitz in the Pacific. He was active in the campaigns on Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Palau and Iwo Jima. He was on special assignment from 1946-1947 as a Second Lt. for the Marine Corps. He was proficient in Japanese, French and German and had intermediate proficiency in Farsi, Korean and Italian. He published a number of books, the most recent on January 31, 2012, Reflections on the Pacific War: A Marine Interpreter Remembers. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History and German. He earned his Master of Arts Degree in European History at Oklahoma State in 1950 and his PhD Degree in European History from the University of Oklahoma in 1963. After the war he served as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and received two commendations from J. Edgar Hoover. He was assigned to the FBI bureaus in Los Angeles, California and Washington, D.C. on special assignments. He taught at the University of Toledo and served as Head of the History Department and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1972, Dr. Leathers came to the University of Akron as Professor of History and Vice President for Academic Affairs until 1988 and taught European and Japanese History until his retirement in 1995. In June, 1997 he was reappointed Senior Vice President and Provost and he subsequently retired in July of 2000. He traveled over a good part of this earth, as a consultant on Academic programs and as a retired professor, enjoying many cultures and interesting sites in this world. He was a devoted husband of 25 years to Dr. Violet Leathers; and father of Shelley Austin (John); Phillip Leathers (Cheryl);Karen Stevens (Dr. Hal); Matthew (Jacquelyn Vennie); Douglas Leathers; Stacie Burgess (Mike); Rafael Terrill-Leathers; Tamara Bogner (Shawn); Laurel Maikranz (William); and Bradley Tomi (deceased, January 14, 2010.) He enjoyed his role as a grandparent and taught his grandchildren about interesting historical places, sang opera to them in foreign languages to calm them down, and enjoyed their responses to everyday life. He delighted in all his grandchildren and was fortunate to be in local proximity to Christina and George Bogner in Jackson Township, Ohio and Anastasia and Natalia Maikranz in Hudson, Ohio from the time of their birth. Dr. Leathers was a member of Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church in Fairlawn, OH., Rotary International of Cuyahoga Falls, OH., the University of Akron Retiree Group of Akron, OH. and the Marine Heritage Foundation in Quantico, VA. Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church, 3365 Ridgewood Rd., Fairlawn, Ohio 44333 where Noel will lie in state one hour prior to service. Very Reverend Fathers Ian Pac-Urar, Laurence Lazar and Jerry Hall officiating. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday, January 31, 2013 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church where a Saracusta service will be held at 7:30 p.m. We are grateful to the care and love shown to him in the past two months by the medical staff of Summa Home Hospice . He especially grew fond of his Hospice nurse, Meg, who cared for him in the past two months. Donations may be made to Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church Endowment Fund or to the University of Akron Honors Program. (Anthony, Akron, 330-724-1281, www.anthonyfh.com)