Leonard L Giles Obituary – The Burlington Free Press – Burlington Free Press

Leonard L Giles, 87 of South Burlington Vermont died July 23, 2022.

Leonard passed away as a result of heart failure during physical rehabilitation after a two-month illness. He was born in Concord NH on January 20, 1935 to Bertha Louise (Malone) Giles and Gerald Henry Giles who predeceased him in 1986. In addition, he is predeceased by his brother Gerald F Giles and his sister-in-law Carmen Giles.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Joanne (Kelty) Giles, sons Stephen (Donna) of Sandy Hook CT Gregory (Odilia), of Tewksbury MA, daughter Julie A Giles of Essex VT and seven grandchildren. Emily Abair of South Burlington, Clark of Sandy Hook CT, Melissa of Hoboken NJ, Curtis of Boston MA, Alison of Clinton MA, Stephanie of Wakefield MA, and Rebecca of Tewksbury MA. In addition he is survived by his sister-in-law Judith Giles of Portsmouth NH, niece Paula Johnson of Lyman ME, and nephews Fredrick of Wilmington NC, Michael, and William both of Portsmouth NH.

Leonard was raised in Canterbury NH, educated in a one room elementary school in Canterbury center where his father owned and operated the General Store and served as US Postmaster. He attended Concord High School and graduated from Kimball Union academy after sitting out a year from back surgery. During summers he worked as a camp counselor and for his Uncle Leonard on his farm in Northwood NH. He graduated from Norwich University in 1959 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the armored division. While there he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, played football and baseball. He met his wife Joanne Kelty in Montpelier VT. They were married at St Frances Xavier Catholic Church in Winooski VT on September 12th, 1959.

After living in Dracut MA, he served as a US Army tank platoon leader in Munich Germany. He was an on-duty officer when the Berlin Wall was constructed in August 1961. Leonard maintained his military status as a Reservist achieving rank of Lieutenant Colonel until 1987. On July 8th, 1988, he was awarded The Meritorious Service Medal by the Secretary of the Army.

In 1962 he opened LL Giles “Groceries, Footwear, Ready to Wear” general store on Main Street in Barton VT, where his motto was, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.” As a member of St Paul’s Parish, he served on the Parish Council, St Paul’s school board and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. While in Barton he enjoyed summer Sundays with his family at Crystal Lake State Park and during the winter months he often would take his family to Burke Mountain or Jay Peak for a fun day of skiing. An avid outdoorsman, he also enjoyed hunting in Orleans County and brook trout fishing with his children.

In 1977 the family moved to Burlington’s North End. He was employed by AR Goyette and then started a new business Leonard’s Wholesale, which he owned and operated for 30+ years until retirement in 2018. A member of St Marks Parish and the Faithful Navigator of the fourth-degree assembly Leonard enjoyed faith filled projects and the bowling league. He was a candidate for Ward 4 city councilor and served on the Burlington zoning board of adjustment until 1994. In 2006 he moved to South Burlington and was a member of St John Vianney Council 7525 and Degoesbriand Assembly 1148 as its treasurer. A lifelong Republican, he served as treasurer of the South Burlington Republican committee.

The family would like to acknowledge with heartfelt thanks the kindness of his South Pointe neighbors, St John Vianney parishioners, South Burlington Fire and Rescue Service. We would also like to especially thank the University of Vermont Medical Arts surgeons, doctors and dedicated nurses who made his final days much easier to bear.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022 from 5pm to 7pm at the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd. Burlington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 30, at 1:00pm at St. John Vianney Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd., So. Burlington. Burial will follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery. To send online condolences to his family please visit www.readyfuneral.com.