Dr. Leon Iii

Dr. Leon Charles Peele, III, 56, of Albemarle, passed away November 3, 2012 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem. Born April 7, 1956 in Windsor, NC, he was the son of the late Leon Charles Peele, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Price Peele of Pine Knoll Shores, NC. Inquisitive and observant as a child, Leon was a driven individual with a life-long passion for learning and discovery. In addition to being a dentist, he was also a licensed realtor and private pilot, and never passed up an opportunity to use his knowledge in ways that served others. One of Leon’s favorite summer jobs during high school was servicing boats at McCotter’s Marina in Washington, NC. Leon enjoyed gleaning information about boating and the wider world from customers he met. Inspired by his own dentist (who was also his Scoutmaster), Leon decided as a teenager to become a dentist. He completed his undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill in three years and graduated from UNC School of Dentistry in 1981. After four years as a dentist in the Air Force and two years serving as an associate dentist in Rocky Mount, NC, Dr. Peele purchased a practice in Albemarle in 1987. Throughout his thirty years as a dentist, he greatly enjoyed serving his patients and continually learning about new practices and innovations in his field. Throughout his life, Leon had a boundless enthusiasm for the outdoors. As a Boy Scout, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and later served as a Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 82 of Albemarle. While there, he completed two treks at Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico, serving as the leader on one occasion. Favorite family excursions often included camping or visiting national parks, and he was a supporter of the Uwharrie Forest as an excellent recreational destination for the central Carolina region. Always eager for a project, Leon purchased the Underground House near the Uwharrie Forest and worked with local craftsmen to renovate it. He applied his interest in technology by incorporating innovative eco-friendly design features. Since then, the home has been used as a vacation rental by visitors from the region and around the world. An avid photographer, Leon’s family nicknamed him “The Electron” for his willingness to do anything for the perfect angle on a photograph. While in the Air Force, Leon earned his private pilot’s license and was an active member in a local flying club for many years. He enjoyed sharing his love of aviation with his family and friends, often giving rides to children as a part of the Experimental Aviation Association’s Young Eagle Program. Dr. Peele was a consistent supporter of community endeavors. An organizer for the first Stanly County Relay for Life, Leon championed cancer research long before his diagnosis in 2011. He was the Honorary Chairman and a main speaker at the 2011 Stanly County Relay for Life, during his first remission. Leon was also highly involved in the schools his four children attended and sponsored many local sports teams. A follower of Jesus Christ from a young age, Leon cherished his church family at First Baptist of Albemarle and sought to use his gifts as he served on the Finance Committee and as a Deacon. During his illness he was deeply impacted by the support of his church. A father of four, his children remember him as a patient teacher and generous man. Family dinner times often included fact-checking with encyclopedias during debates, or impromptu science experiments like burning a peanut to see how much energy it contained. On family ski trips, he would carefully explain hand-drawn diagrams about the states of water and different types of precipitation. On vacation between treatments this July, he volunteered for an egg in the bottle experiment at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Nova Scotia, adding his own commentary. Never mind that it was a children’s program! His family will greatly miss him and his unique perspective on life. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 31 years, Elizabeth Golding Norwood Peele of the home; daughter, Betsy Hoyle and husband Joseph of Richmond, VA.; son, Charlie Peele of Lynchburg, VA.; daughters, Catherine Peele of Dallas, TX, and Molly Peele of Albemarle; granddaughter, Elleree Hoyle; and a sister, Claire Morehouse and husband Kurt of Chapel Hill, NC. He was preceded in death by a sister, Carla Peele. The family will receive friends at Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at First Baptist Church, Albemarle, on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with a 30 minute state. Rev. David Phelps and Rev. Court Greene will officiate. The burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Park, Albemarle. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Missions Fund, 202 N. Second Street, Albemarle, NC 28001, Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 250, Albemarle, NC 28002 or Be The Match Foundation (the National Marrow Donor Program), 3001 Broadway Street, NE, Suite 601, Minneapolis, Minn. 55413-1753. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the family.