Leighton Akers Caldwell

1932 - 2007

Dr. Leighton Akers Caldwell, 74, of Chesapeake, went home to be with his Lord on Friday, March 23, 2007, at his residence. Born in Lynchburg on May 18, 1932, he was the son of the late Watson Akers Caldwell and Elsie McCraw Caldwell. Leighton was an active member of Central Baptist Church in Portsmouth. He earned his B.S. degree majoring in Engineering Mechanics with a minor in Aeronautical Engineering, his Masters in Mathematics and his PhD in Engineering Mechanics, all from V.P.I. He taught at Virginia Tech while working on his advance degree and after completing his PhD, he continued teaching at Virginia Tech for several years. He was a retired Nuclear Engineer from the U.S. Department of the Navy in Norfolk. He served his country as a fighter pilot in the Tactical Air Command flying the F-89 Interceptor jet during the Cold War from 1952-1957. During his service in the U.S. Air Force, he earned the rank of Major. During his Reserve service, he was Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy in Western Virginia and the Tidewater area. Leighton was an avid sportsman as he enjoyed hunting, fishing and shooting with friends and family. He is survived by one daughter, Sherida C. Leslie and her husband Glen of Conyers, Ga.; two stepdaughters, Sue Ann Tarkenton and her husband C. Eric and Amy Cassidy, both of Easley, S.C.; two brothers, Raymond M. Caldwell of Forest and Sherwood M. Caldwell and his wife, Hazel of Kingsport, Tenn.; and three grandchildren, Chloe I. Leslie, Spencer E. Tarkenton and Nathaniel G. Tarkenton. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2007, from Whitten Monelison Chapel, 3966 S. Amherst Hwy., Madison Heights, Va., with Leighton's pastor, the Rev. Tim Robertson, officiating. Interment will follow in Bayley's Chapel Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post 16. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 30, 2007 at the funeral home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Institution for Creation Research (www.icr.org/donate) or The National Rifle Association. (www.nrafoundation. org/giving/donate.asp).
To send condolences by internet, please go to www.whittenfuneralhome.com. Whitten Funeral Home and Cremation Service/Monelison Chapel, (434) 929-5712 is serving Mr. Caldwell's family.