Kenneth Miles Leber Jr.

1922 - 2020

Leber Jr., Kenneth Miles
Oct 29, 1922 - May 3, 2020
Kenneth Miles Leber, Jr., of Sarasota, Florida, peacefully passed away on Sunday May 3, 2020, at the blessed age of 97 years. Kenneth was born on October 29, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia to Kenneth, Sr. and Florence Leber. As a boy he lived in Richmond, where he worked in his father's furniture shop. As a very young man, Kenneth was self-taught in principles of electronics, and eventually began work at Western Union Telegraph Co. in 1941. There, he met the love of his life, Mabel Prestipino, and they were married on V.E. Day, May 8, 1945. They were together inseparably for 74 years. His beloved wife, Mabel, passed away in October, 2019.
The early years of Kenneth's life were difficult financially, as his family struggled to survive the Great Depression. By the time he met Mabel, he was on his way to a long and successful career in electronics. They moved frequently during the 1950's and 60's to accommodate the requirements of Kenneth's job, living in Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, California, and finally back to Virginia. Kenneth left Western Union in 1974 to become a civilian Navy electronics specialist in worldwide radio frequency management. At the age of 82, Kenneth retired from the Navy. In 2004, he and Mabel moved to Sarasota.
Kenneth and Mabel had two sons who survive them, Kenneth Miles Leber III, who is married to Kevan Main, and Philip Wesley Leber, who is married to Laurel D. Rund. There are four Leber grandchildren: David, Owen, Cassie and Michael; and seven great grandchildren. Kenneth's surviving sister, Helen, lives in Virginia, and his brother, James, lives in North Carolina.
Kenneth and Mable were faithful members of Ascension Lutheran Church in Sarasota. Until his health condition made it impossible, Kenneth was an active member in the church choir. He loved music and played harmonica to entertain friends and family. He loved to be with family and was always up for a picnic, reunion or gathering of friends. Kenneth was a devoted father who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them. He was a strong patriarch of his family, a friend to all, and a generous man who would do whatever he could to help family members in times of need.
Kenneth Miles Leber, Jr. was a faithful, kind and good man. His life was a living example of the Psalmist in his favorite Bible passage, Psalm 23. He is loved and will be missed by many.
Visitation will be held at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota FL on May 11 from 10 AM to noon, followed by a graveside service at 12:30 PM at Palms Memorial Park.
Graveside service will be livestreamed over Facebook URL is https://www.facebook.com/RobertToaleAndSons/