Brigadier General Leon E. Wait

Brigadier General Leon E. Wait, US Army retired,83

North Greenbush - Brigadier General Leon E. Wait, US Army retired,83, of Pine Avenue died Thursday, January 1, 2009 at Samaritan Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Troy, he was son of the late LeGrande B. Wait and Mary (Quell) Wait and husband of Elizabeth (Guida) Teeling Wait and the late Anne M. Kolenberg Wait for 52 years. He had resided in the Troy area all his life.

He was a graduate of Sacred Heart School in Troy and Averill Park High School. For 10 years, he was a Professor of Military Science and Tactics at La Salle Institute in Troy (Honor NDCC School), a NYS Hunting Safety instructor since 1960, a Rifle and Pistol instructor for the NRA, a Home Safety instructor, an instructor for the Eddie Eagle School Program and an instructor for the War College in Fort Leavenworth and Carlisle.

Leon enlisted in the NY National Guard in December 42 and Marines in November 43 serving in the South Pacific Theatre, was discharged in 46 as a Corporal and reenlisted in the NY Guard as a Sargent the same day with his kid brothers, Bernie and John. He was US Army Retired after 54 years in the Marines and Army as a Brigadier General. During his service he was involved in the Battle at Okinowa, Guam and China. He participated in the ceremony at the surrender of the Japanese military forces in the area of TSINGTAO, China in October 1945. Leon was in the 3rd and 6th Marine Divisions and was Deputy Commander of Logistics at the Pentagon. He also worked as a Certified Life Underwriter for John Hancock Insurance Company for 30 years retiring many years ago. For 2 years he was Town Clerk for the Town of North Greenbush.

A life member of the VFW #729 Watervliet, 30 years North Greenbush Ambulance Association, the Marine Corps League, Karner Rod & Gun Club Albany. He was an endowment member of the NRA and a member of the Hendrick Hudson Fish & Game Club Averill Park, Burlington Flats Rifle & Pistol Club, Retired Officers Association, Retiree Service Office of the Watervliet Arsenal, 4th Degree K of C Rensselaer, K of C St. Jude's and Troy Seniors. In 2005, the NYS Assembly proclaimed him 'North Greenbush Man Of The Year'. He lived to hunt and fish and traveled to every state in the US and 30+ foreign countries and especially loved hunting in Alaska.

Survivors in addition to his wife include his children, Edward (Kathy) Wait of Minerva, Larry (Brenda) Wait of Cochranton, PA, Gerald (Susan) Wait of Gansevoort, Danny Wait of Brunswick, Janet (Dan) Leonard of Montgomery, NY, Joanne (Carey B.) Ziter of Montgomery, NY, Linda (Ray) Houle of Wilmington, NC, Deborah (Paul) Malette of Clifton Park and John Teeling of Watervliet; a sister, Mary (Tom) Phibbs of Wynantskill; 16 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Sgt. Bernard Wait, killed in Vietnam and CWO John Wait.

Funeral service will be held Monday at 9:30 AM at St. Jude the Apostle Church Brookside Avenue in Wynantskill where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.

Relatives and friends may call at the CHURCH on Sunday from 4-8PM.

Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Wynantskill. Contributions may be made in memory of Leon Wait to St. Jude the Apostle Church Brookside Avenue Wynantskill, NY 12198. For a private family guest book and service directions, visit www.brycefh.com

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