Submitted by: Dan Rich

Leslie Calvin Whitcomb

Nov. 22, 1919 - Oct. 27, 1999

South Bend Tribune 10/30/1999

Leslie Calvin "Bear" Whitcomb, 79, died on Wednesday, Oct. 27, in Cape Coral, Fla. He was born in Evansville, Ind. on Nov. 22, 1919, the son of Rev. Leslie George Whitcomb and Freda (Kriewitz) Whitcomb. He graduated from the College of Emporia, Emporia, Kan., and had a career in management for the Uniroyal Corp., Mishawaka, Ind. Leslie was the director of adult and children's choirs at the First Methodist Church and Grace Methodist Church in South Bend, Ind. for many years.

Leslie and Phyllis Martin were married in South Bend on Sept. 26, 1942 and recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. He is survived by five sons and a daughter, Leslie C. Whitcomb, Jr. (Jan) of San Diego, Calif., Stuart M. Whitcomb (Sherry) of Kokomo, Ind., John Bruce Whitcomb (Martha) of Kalamazoo, Mich., Arthur A. Whitcomb (Judi) of South Bend, Kenneth S. Whitcomb (Laurie) of Indianapolis, Ind., and Anne V. Whitcomb of Osceola, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; and by four great-grandchildren.

Leslie moved to Cape Coral, Fla. in 1990, where he was a member of the Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary, a teacher of English-as-a-Second Language at Dunbar Community School and Cape Coral High School and he played piano at several local nursing homes and a pre-school.

He was formerly active in the American Guild of Organists, Rotary Club and the American Red Cross, where he was a first aid and swimming instructor and a disaster relief instructor.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Fund or to the Leukemia Foundation.