2007
Walter Murray "Kirk" Leech, 87, a cartographer who became deputy director of the Defense Mapping Agency's
Hydrographic/Topographic Center, died of cancer Sept. 20 at Capital Hospice's Halquist Memorial Inpatient Center in Arlington
County.
Mr. Leech worked as a cartographer for what was then the Army Map Service from 1946 to 1963. He retired from the successor
Defense Mapping Agency in 1979.
He was born in Guthrie, Ky., moved to Washington in 1930 and graduated from the old Central High School. In 1937, he won an
essay contest for Washington Times Herald newspaper carriers that included a trip to Europe. He toured Europe for about three
weeks and wrote articles for the paper about his experiences, a son said.
During World War II, he served in North Africa, Europe and the Pacific with the Army Corps of Engineers as a lieutenant colonel.
From George Washington University, Mr. Leech received a bachelor's degree in business administration and, in the early
1970s, an MBA, both with honors.
He lived in McLean for 40 years before moving recently to Falls Church.
He was a member of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in McLean, where he served on the vestry and taught Sunday school and
confirmation classes.
His wife of 53 years, Adelaide Baden Leech, died in 1996.
Survivors include four sons, Michael Leech of Falls Church, Steven Leech of Tinton Falls, N.J., Paul Leech of Arlington and
Andrew Leech of Maplewood, N.J.; a brother; and six grandchildren.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb