Albert Francis Leister

Albert Francis Leister, Jr. LEESVILLE - Albert Francis Leister Jr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 4, 2015. Born into a military family in Winston Salem, NC, November 20, 1946, he was the son of Albert Francis Leister, Sr. and Bessie Juanita Whitlow. He is survived by his wife, Jane B. Welihozkiy; daughters, Tiffany Lynn Tuley of Evans, GA and Dawn Leister of Hamden, CT; grandsons, Jacob Easton Tuley and Caden Gray Tuley; and step sons, Andrew Welihozkiy and Nicholas Welihozkiy as well as a sister, Mary Leister Aaen of Princeton, NJ and Robert J. Leister of Mesa, AZ. Al graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1969 and spent 30 years serving his country as an armor officer in the continental United States, in Vietnam, and for twelve years in the Federal Republic of Germany retiring as a Colonel. He was a gallant professional who loved every challenge and experience the Army sent his way. His awards included the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak leaf cluster, the Good Conduct Medal, numerous meritorious unit citations, the Vietnamese Cross to Gallantry with Palm, the Army Ranger tab, and the coveted the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Upon retirement from the U.S. Army, Al worked as a very successful Director of Business Development for Northrop Grumman in the Washington, DC area. Since his full retirement in 2012 he has been active in SCORE, the State of South Carolina's program to enhance small businesses, serving as a certified mentor, facilitator, and developer. He also enjoyed the roll of facilitator for ethics and leadership workshops for local high school students sponsored by the West Point Society of Columbia , SC. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, Colonel Leister earned a Master's of Science degree in social psychology from the University of Washington. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and the Defense Strategy Course. The family wishes to thank Dr. Brian Willard, Carolina Urology, as well as Dr. Steve Madden, Lexington Oncology, as well as the nursing staff at Lexington Medical Center. Al's life of selfless service earned him innumerable, lifelong friends and epitomized bothDuty - Honor - Country and Army Strong. Those who wish to celebrate and honor him may send donations to The West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, New York 10996, "In memory of Colonel (retired) Albert Francis Leister, Jr. Class of 1969." Funeral service with full military honors will be held in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC at a later date. www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net