BEDFORD, NH
Leland David Churchill, 84, passed away on Friday, January 22 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH, with his daughter, Wendy and adopted son, Justin by his side. Leland was born March 25, 1931 in Montpelier, VT the son of Richard and Marietta (Gibson) Churchill. The youngest of five children, his early years were spent on the family farm. When the farm was taken for the construction of VT 91, the family moved to Windsor, VT where Leland went on to graduate from Windsor High School in 1949.
Leland graduated from UVM in 1953 and earned a Masters in Education from UNH in 1974. He served in the US Army Reserves from 1953 to 1956 as a 1st Lt. Infantry and in the VT National Guard from 1957 to 1962 as a Captain. After a long career as a High Guidance Counselor in NH and Maine, Leland retired from education. Always a worker, he entered the retail industry as a department manager, finishing his career at Walmart in Amherst, NH, as a greeter in September of 2015. A highlight of his career was being instrumental in bringing a chapter of the "A Better Chance Program" to Concord High School in the early seventies. This program brought inner city youth to rural high schools and colleges and was truly at the forefront of diversity in NH.
Leland was a converted Catholic, he was active in his church, and who, with his wife, Mary, sponsored a young Rwandan teenager. This loving alliance has enriched his life and continues to this day.
Leland was predeceased by his beloved infant son, David and a very special grandson, Daniel. He leaves his wife of twenty seven years, Mary who passed away on Friday, February 12, 2016, and her children and grandchildren, his three children from his first marriage, Carol and her husband Bill Cohen, their daughter Ariel and son Soloman, daughter Wendy Churchill and her husband David Levine, their daughter Sarah and husband Carl Brannigan, their two children Lydia and baby Levi, a son Richard Churchill and his daughters Nicole Belmosto and her children Nautica, Jacey and Jayden, and Jennifer and her husband Justin Pierce, their two sons Cole and Dominic, and baby Evelyn due in March. Leland surrendered one son, Paul to his mother and stepfather for adoption, and sponsored a son Justin Mazimpaka who he leaves with Justin's wife Alejandre Costas and their three daughters Carla, Gabriella and Stephanie. He also leaves his beloved older sister Laurel Cadmus, her son Hadley and his family, several nieces and a cousin Winston Churchill and family.
Leland's family would like to thank his many friends in the community, his neighbors, his coworkers at Walmart in Amherst, NH, the wonderful staff and residents at Bedford Hills Center, and two friends, Steve Norday and Richard Ducharme.
Lee Churchill proved that no matter our mistakes, we can always take the best part of ourselves and use it to do good things to help others and be a true friend.
A memorial service for Leland and Mary will be held at the Bedford Hills Center at 30 Colby Court in Bedford, NH on Saturday, February 20 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM for family and friends. A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the Ascutney Cemetery in Windsor, VT under the Churchill birch tree.
Memorial contributions may be made to Boston Children's Hospital, at 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.
The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor, VT is entrusted with the arrangements.