Leon H. Mappes

SOUTH BEND, Ind. < Leon H. Mappes, 82, of South Bend, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 in Memorial Hospital from cancer. Leon was born in Weedsport, the son of the late Hurlon and Helen Mappes. He was also stepson of Thelma H. Mappes. Leon graduated from Weedsport Central School in 1944 and soon was employed by New York State Electric and Gas Corp. He served in different positions and at the time of his retirement, was a Customer Service Representative. That was in 1987. He was employed by this company for 43 years. Mr. Mappes was an active member of the Cayuga Council of the Boy Scouts of America and also served as Scout troop leader. He also was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. He was an elder in First Presbyterian Church, Auburn, First Presbyterian Church, Port Charlotte, Fla., and an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, South Bend. Moving from Port Charlotte in 1994, he became a docent at the Northern Indiana Center for History. He married Marion Short (Mappes) November 14, 1953. They have three children, John Mappes, of Elkhart, Ind., Margaret (Ron) Sevison, of Niles, Mich., and Kenneth (Sue) Mappes, of Arcadia, Fla.; six grandchildren, Alex Mappes. of Memphis, Tenn., Renee Mappes, of Franklin, Tenn., Robert Sevison and Brian Sevison, of Niles, Jacqueline Mappes, of Sarasota, Fla. and Matthew Mappes, of Arcadia, Fla. Also surviving are brothers, Carl Walrath, of Williamsburg, Va., Robert (Mary Lou) Mappes, of Hagerstown, Md., and Gordon (Linda) Mappes, of Troy; several nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. A Memorial Service was held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, in Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiated by the pastor, the Rev. Karen Brugler. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1501 W. Cleveland Road, South Bend, Ind.; or to the charity of your choice in memory of Leon Mappes. McGann Hay, Morning Star Funerals, Cremations, Gatherings of South Bend, assisted the family with arrangements. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.