Dr. Raymond Eugene Leonard, 65, of Elizabeth City, NC, passed away on Wednesday night, October 12, 2011, with his loving family by his side. Raymond was born in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, April 7, 1946. Raised on an apple farm in Orchard Gap, Virginia, he was the elder son of Harvey and Margaret Leonard.

A graduate of Hillsville High School, Raymond graduated from Milligan College in 1969, where he met Rhonda, the love of his life. Following graduation, they married and relocated to Hillsville, VA. Raymond went on to earn Masters and Doctorate degrees in Education Administration from Virginia Tech. For over 30 years, Raymond served in several administrative positions with Carroll County Public Schools, retiring in 2002 as the Assistant Superintendent. After a long and rewarding career in Virginia, Raymond continued to embrace his passion for education, accepting a position in 2002 as the Director of Finance for Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools. Raymond was very dedicated to Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools and assumed supervisory duties of the Child Nutrition, Transportation, and Maintenance Departments in addition to his duties as Finance Officer.

In addition to his numerous professional achievements, Raymond led an active life of community service, including leadership positions in the Lions Club, the Boy Scouts of America and the United Methodist Church. For the last 9 years Raymond was an active member of City Road United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Raymond was also a Past President of the Virginia Association of School Business Officials, and was active in the North Carolina and Southeastern Associations of School Business Officials.

Raymond enjoyed spending time on the Outer Banks, camping and fishing with his sons, traveling across the United States with Rhonda and dear friends, Jim and Betty Kilbourne, and spoiling his three granddaughters. He also loved spending fall weekends cheering on his beloved Virginia Tech Hokies.

Raymond is survived by his loving wife Rhonda; three sons and their families, Ray and Becky of Powhatan, Virginia; Tim and Sada, and their daughter, Juliana, of London, England; and Greg and Sarah, and their two daughters, Kayla and Hailey, of White Plains, Maryland; a brother, Charlie and his wife Peggy, of Marietta, Georgia; a brother-in-law, Tom Wright and his wife Barbara, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two nephews and their wives, David and Amy Leonard and John and Suzanne Leonard; two nieces, Molly and Samantha Wright; three aunts, Evelyn Coulson, Esther Dawson and Ruth Bowman; and many wonderful friends and colleagues.

Following the funeral service in Elizabeth City, NC, a special visitation with friends and family will be held on Monday night, October 17, 2011, at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Funeral Home in Hillsville, VA, from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 11:30am, at the Oakdale Cemetery on North Main Street in Mt. Airy, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to one of the following: City Road United Methodist Church, 511 North Road Street, Elizabeth City, NC, 27909; the Education Foundation of Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Public Schools, P.O. Box 2453, Elizabeth City, NC 27909; or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (www.pancan.org).