F. Leo McDermitt

F. Leo McDermitt GETTYSBURG F. Leo McDermitt, 92, of 40 Maple Ave., Gettysburg, died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at Green Acres. Born Feb. 18, 1912, he was the son of the late Francis F. and Minnie C. (Kane) McDermitt. He was a civilian construction engineer for the U.S. Army during World War II, building air bases in Puerto Rico and the Aleutian Islands. Following the war, he started his own construction business, McDermitt Inc. As president, he built the business into the region's leading concrete construction company until his retirement in 1976. He contributed a number of improvements to many church, community and athletics causes. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Gettysburg, and a former member of the parish council and other church committees. Mr. McDermitt was instrumental in improving and maintaining St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. He was a past member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Gettysburg Lions Club, Gettysburg Elks and a past member of the board of directors of The Gettysburg Hospital, a past president of the Gettysburg Little League and the Gettysburg Riding Club. He was a former member of the York-Adams Beagle Club and raised and trained national and international champion Beagles. He was an avid hunter and sportsman. Surviving are his wife, Anna M. (Redding) McDermitt; three children, M. Jane Hutton of Hanover, Peggy A. Olsen of Middlebary, Vt., and David F. McDermitt of Andover, Mass.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandson. He is also survived by a brother, J. Mark McDermitt of Lewisbury; and three sisters, Lorraine Riley, Olivia Hoffman and Rita Gates, all of Gettysburg. He was predeceased by a son, Thomas L. McDermitt, who died May 22, 2004; a brother, Patrick McDermitt; and two sisters, Catherine Topper and Judy Finch. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 2, meeting at the Monahan Funeral Home, 125 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, at 10:30 a.m. to go to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 20 W. High St., Gettysburg, for a Mass of Christian burial with Father Bernardo Pistone as celebrant. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, with a rosary at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in care of the church.