Edwin Barnhardt Leaf, Jr.

Edwin Barnhardt Leaf, Jr. passed away on June 20, 2024, at the age of 93.  Beloved husband of 68 years to Patricia (nee Llewellyn).  Ed was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and graduated from Crafton High School.  He attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a degree in Political Science with a minor in Russian, in which he was fluent for the rest of his life.  During college he served in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and following graduation in 1953, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Regular Army Signal Corps. 

Ed served for a total of 33 years in the US and abroad. Two notable tours were his posting to France where he met his wife Pat, and his posting to Vietnam which coincided with the Tet Offensive and where he served as Deputy Inspector General of the First Signal Brigade. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in July of 1980. His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Medal with 2 bars, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Upon leaving the military, Ed pursued a career in the private sector and retired from that position in Mount Laurel in 2000.

Ed was a master model-ship builder who built numerous notable scale models from sailing ships to aircraft carriers. His models have been displayed at the Battleship New Jersey, the Philadelphia Seaport Museum, the Philadelphia Airport, as well as Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.  He shared his expertise when he wrote the book, Ship Modeling From Scratch, first published in 1994 and remains available on Amazon.

Ed was a long-time member of the Philadelphia Ship Model Society, the Red Dragon Canoe Club, and the Burington County Rotary.  He served as a volunteer for several organizations, most recently as treasurer of the Shipman Mansion for the Red Dragon Canoe Club.

He is survived by his wife Patricia (nee Llewellyn), his sister Mildred, daughter Denise (David), sons Christopher (Lisa) and Geoffrey (Cheryl), grandchildren Stephen and Philip, great grandchildren Natalie and Stephanie as well as several nieces and nephews. A memorial is being planned for a later date.

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