Francis Hardwicke Leake

LEAKE, Francis Hardwicke, 82, of Louisa County, died January 8, 2009. He is survived by sister, Martha Snyder of Charlottesville; brother, Charles of Orlando, Fla.; sons, Brett of Louisa and Derek, his wife, Anne-Marie, and son, Philip of Richmond; and ex-wife, Sylvia Reinhardt of Lyndhurst. Francis attended Benedictine High School and served his country in the Navy in WWII. He was a longtime employee of B.T. Crump Co. and later Goldberg Co., both of Richmond. Through an inspirational work ethic - and although he was largely self-taught - he rose to serve both companies as Secretary -Treasurer. During the 1970s, he owned a cottage at Nags Head. He enjoyed fishing and driving his 1952 Willys Jeep on the beach. In 1980, Francis and his wife renovated a 1742 house and established a vineyard in Louisa County. His cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc grapes both contributed to award-winning wines. Following his retirement, he loved tending to his farm, watching birds and other wildlife, and noting the cycles of the seasons. Although limited by FSH muscular dystrophy, he enjoyed fashioning gadgets that helped him preserve his independence. He was a loving father, proud grandfather, and a dear friend. He will be missed by all who knew him. A service will be held at Elpis Christian Church in Goochland County on February 7 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy, the FSH Society (www.fshsociety.org), or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.