Raymond David Leslie, 62

Raymond David " Dave" Leslie, 62 of Wheelersburg, went to Heaven on Saturday December 25, 2010 while awaiting a liver transplant at Cleveland Clinic. He was born August 6, 1948 in Portsmouth the eldest son of the late Raymond F. Leslie and Hattie B. Leslie (Fred) Payton of Portsmouth. He was a member of the Lucasville Church of God and Portsmouth Church of God where he served on the Pastors Council, finance committee, outreach nursing, home ministry, church bus driver and sang in the Leslie Quartet. He was a former Staff Sergeant in the US Army where he was a Point man in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star V with valor for heroism in ground combat when he fought in the TET Offensive in 1968. He also guarded the DMZ in Korea in 1969 and also served in Germany. He retired from Interstate Brand Corp., where he was a route driver for Dolly Madison; he worked at Orkin and Boggs Exterminating Co. Foodland, and Savory Foods and assisted in the family business Leslie Tree Trimming and Removal. Along with his father Dave was preceded in death by 2 brothers Reverend James Leslie ands Paul Leslie, a niece Tiffany Leslie, a nephew Anthony Leslie and numerous other family members.

Dave is survived by his wife Clara Roe Leslie who he married on January 30, 1971, 2 daughters; Melody (Rusty) Haywood of Wheelersburg, Cindy (Sean) McHenry of Portsmouth, 3 grandchildren; Kaleb, Jacob and Kaleigh Ann McHenry, 2 step grandchildren; Jocelyn Pettit and Branden McHenry, 5 sisters; Ethel (Jerry) Yarnell, Barb (Bill) Payne, Linda (Dave) Evans, Brenda (Jim) Dalton all of Lucasville, Jean (Vic) Branda of Portsmouth, 2 brothers; John (Betty) Leslie and Kevin (Merrill) Leslie both of Columbus, 2 sisters-in-law; Anita Leslie Mills and Brenda (Plummer) Leslie along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Thursday December 30, 2010 at Gateway Portsmouth Church of God on 6th and Brown Street in Portsmouth with Rick Ratliff officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Burial Park with Military Rites by James Dickey Post 23 American Legion. Friends may call at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth from 5 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday and one hour prior to the service at the church.