Alan John Leidecker

Alan John Leidecker passed peacefully at the Berkshire in Vinton, Va. on Nov. 6, 2018. He was born in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24, 1946. Alan was predeceased by his parents, Henning and Catherine Ann Beardsley Leidecker, He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, daughters, Mary and Rosemary, and grandchildren, Christiana and Steven. His siblings include Henning (Allene), Dorothy (Herb), and Mary Martha (Felipe). He has numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, including Matt (Suzanne) Ely who reside locally.
Alan graduated from The Catholic University of America in 1968 and the Columbus School of Law in 1971 after winning the prestigious Moot Court Award. He obtained an LL.M. in 1975 from Georgetown Law and a Masters in Religious Education from Loyola New Orleans in 1991. From 1972 to 1977 he was an Associate County Attorney for Prince George’s County in Maryland. While there he testified before the State Electrical Board, leading to revision of the National Electric Code to forbid the use of unsafe aluminum wiring in most household appliances. After a period of private law practice, he served as a Staff Attorney with Social Security in Roanoke, Va. While there he drafted thousands of decisions in disability cases and played a leading role in implementing computerized management of case files.
Alan had a great love of puns and jokes, often entertaining his family with his “joke of the year”. He is legendary for his ability at Scrabble, chess (president of the Chess Club at C.U.), and his prodigious memory. He accepted with grace and gentleness his long confinement in a nursing home from diabetes and congestive heart failure.
He was a member of St. Thomas of Canterbury Church in Roanoke, Va. The Burial Service honoring Alan’s life will be 2:00pm Saturday, November 10 at Rader Funeral Home, 630 Roanoke Road Daleville with Rev. Fr. Don Poff officiating. Burial will be at Godwin Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, 2-4 & 6-8pm.

Alan loved donating blood to the American Red Cross and received recognition for having donated over seven gallons during his lifetime. Alan would be honored to have supporters donate blood or offer a monetary contribution to the American Red Cross.
Online condolences may be made to Alan’s family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.

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