Individual Details

Death

Clarence St. Peer "Tucky" Leake, 68, retired Harrisonburg policeman, died in his sleep early Wednesday morning, Oct. 5, 1966, at his home, 433 W. Water Street, Harrisonburg. Death was apparently due to a heart attack. Mr. Leake was born in Harrisonburg, April 14, 1898 and was the son of the late Eustace and Ella Finchum Leake. He spent practically his entire life here. He served on the Harrisonburg Police force for 32 years and was night sergeant when he retired three years ago. After his retirement he was associated with Heatwole TV and Radion Service. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Harrisonburg Lodge of Elks. On June 17, 1917 he married the former Ellen Webster, who survives. Also Surviving are 12 children, Cornell E. Leake of Arlington, Virgil Nelson (Jimmy), Olin N. and Aubrey Leake, Mrs. Robert Furr and Mrs. Ronnie Rhodes, all of Harrisonburg, Mrs. Gerald Knupp of Pittsburg, Mrs. D. W. Fawley, Jr., and Donald M. Leake, both of Falls Church and Mrs. Arthur Grandle of Satellite Beach, Fla., Dennis E. Leake of Lancaster, Pa. and Miss Sandra Leake, who is teaching in Rheimstein, Germany, 24 grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Edith Peggy of San Diego, Calif. and Mrs. Grover Riglemon of Timberville, and two brothers, Heywood Leake of Dublin, Ga., and Ellis Leake of Harrisonburg. The body is at the Lindsey Harrisonburg Funeral Home pending the arrival of his daughter from Germany and the completion of funeral arrangements. Sgt. Leake was appointed to the Harrisonburg police force April 1, 1932 and when he retired May 15, 1963, he was the last of the "old guard" officers, those who had served in the 1930's. He was promoted to sergeant, Jan. 1, 1960. Sgt. Leake was widely known for his solicitation of fund for many community projects. He considered his greatest achievement the raising of fund for Memorial Stadium in tribute to the Rockingham and Harrisonburg men who lost their lives in World War II. The stadium on the northern area of the Harrisonburg High School grounds was dedicated May 29, 1949. Sgt. Leake also had raised funds for the bronze plaque bearing the names of those who lost their lives. He later took the lead in improving stadium facilities and installing electric scoreboards for baseball and football. He never lost interest in the stadium. In a letter to the editor of the Daily News-Record published last week, Mr. Leake deplored the conditions of the stadium and suggested that it should be maintained properly. The City School Board Tuesday night included the renovation of the stadium and maintenance in its overall program for improving the entire sports area. In an interview in 1963, Mr. Leake expressed pleasure that City Recreation Department has widely expanded it program. He recalled then that he was an early advocate for the full time department and talked on the subject to numerous groups. Sgt. Leake was responsible for establishing the former Annie Burke Good softball field at Waterman School and its later location near the old Moose Home on North Main Street. He also inaugurated the School Boy Patrol. He raised funds to send the members to the annual parade in Washington. For years, Sgt. Leake was a prime fund raiser for summer baseball here. In the early 50'2 he honored before a Stadium baseball crowd when the later Mayor Laurence L. Loewner presented him a certificate of appreciation. Friends said that Sgt. Leake probably devoted more time to soliciting funds for various community causes than any other Harrisonburg resident. n 1943, Sgt. Leake said that he engaged in these activities because his "major interest was in youth, their safety and recreation – and in sports for all ages."