Leslie Steele

Leslie W. Steele, beloved husband of the late Lauretta M. Steele for 61 years of marriage and loving father of Sheryl Medina, Sandra (Steve) Kilcoyne, and Debra Kreilein, passed away on October 5, 2016 at the age of 92, after a year-long battle with cancer.  Also survived by his sister Nancy Stiehm, 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Leslie was born in 1923 in Windber, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Portage Township High School in 1941.  He attended Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.  Eight days after graduation, Leslie was drafted into the United States Army.  He married Lauretta before deploying to the Philippines with the 29th Engineers and the 373rd Port Battalion.  After being discharged from the military, Leslie returned to Cleveland and Case Institute of Technology where he earned a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.  In 1947 he began his 36-year long career with the Procter and Gamble Company in Cincinnati, Ohio where he worked in the Process Safety and Synthetic Detergent sections as head of the Production Engineering Department and then as Associate Director of Food Engineering.  His most memorable contribution during his career was that of making synthetic powdered laundry detergents (Tide, Cheer, and Dreft) available to the world.  Leslie was a 50-year member of Friendship United Methodist Church and a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.  He was also an avid golfer, trout fisherman, western big game hunter, bridge player, and world traveler.  He was an active and appreciative member of Maple Knoll Village for 10 years.  Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 10th at 11:00 AM at Friendship United Methodist Church, 1025 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215.  Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boy Scouts/Dan Beard Council, 10078 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241, Maple Knoll Village, or Friendship United Methodist Church.