John Henry Leach, 89, died Nov. 14, 2010, at Hospice House.

He was born July 4, 1921, the 6th child of Arthur and Pearl Bundy Leach, in Great Bend, Kan.

He lived in Great Bend, until the age of six, when the family moved to Arkansas City, Kan., where he attended grades 1 through 12 and graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1939. He continued his education at Kansas State University, before enlisting in the United States Army. After 42 months of service, he returned to college and received a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Journalism in 1950.

On Dec. 24, 1943, he married Jane Louise Riddell in Hammond, La. After finishing college, John spent four years as an elementary school teacher and principal until taking the job of Postmaster in Arlington, Kan., in 1954. While working in the Post Office, John and Jane raised their three children Janet, Joneen and Jean. The family lived on land where they raised cattle and farmed. They also ran a weekly newspaper, The Arlington Enterprise, until the paper's sale to a neighboring paper. In 1972, John retired from the Postal Service and in 1975, he retired from the Air National Guard. He completed 32 years of military service.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jane Leach; daughters, Janet (Mel) Ralston of Hutchinson, Joneen (Jack) Singleton of Abingdon, Va., and Jean (Hap) Ramsey of Sterling, Kan.; sisters, Louise Davis of Ashland, Kan., and Helen Govert of Tribune, Kan.; grandchildren, Jennifer Reeves, Matthew Ramsey, Paula (Billy) Nichols, Josie (Tim) Aaron, Alex Singleton, Joe (Casey Gervais) Ramsey, and John (Candy) Singleton; and great grandchildren, Hunter Nichols, Henry Ramsey, Aiesha Singleton, Dylan Nichols, Nya Ramsey, Olivia Ramsey, Conner Nichols, Celia Ramsey, Ethan Singleton, Caden Singleton and Jensen Reeves. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Arthur, Robert and Russell; and sisters, Dorothy Leach, Mary Leach and Charlotte Bilotta.

Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, in the McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, with Reverend Michael P. Milliken officiating. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary, the casket will be closed.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Military honors conducted by the McConnell U.S. Air Force Base Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in John's name to Hospice of Reno County or the Cancer Council of Reno County.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.