Leonard Herbert Straw

  General Notes:

1920 Stowe, Lamoille Co., Vermont
Shaw Hill
LEO H. STRAW 42 VTVTVT Novelty Shop - laborer (mill work)
Louise wife 41 VTVTCanada
Richard S. son 13 VTVTVT
Leota daughter 12 VTVTVT
Max H. son 10 VTVTVT
Leonard H 4 Pennsylvania VTVT

1930 Melrose, Middlesex County, MA
Leo H Straw age 53 VT
Louise S. Straw age 51 born VT; married at age 27
Richard S. Straw age 23 VT
Leota Straw age 22 Vt
Max H. Straw age 20 VT
Leonard H. Straw age 14 PA

OBIT: LEONARD HERBERT STRAW, Marin County, California
His spirit left his body in the early hours of June 5th, 2004 in San Rafael, CA. He was 88 years old.
Born November 18th, 1915, in Pennsylvania, Len was raised in Stowe, Vermont and Melrose, Massachusetts. After earning a degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University on a student-work program with IBM, he was given a choice of working either in New York City or San Francisco. He chose the latter, where he began his 42-year career with the company on May 1, 1938. His positions at IBM included Customer Engineer, Installation Planner and Field Manager. Len lived in different areas of Marin County, eventually settling in Terra Linda. He retired on December 31, 1980.
A true homebody, devoted husband and father, Len very much enjoyed working on his house, improving it and making it a more comfortable home for his family. Occasionally, he would take his family on road trips or camping vacations. As he progressed into his eighties, he usually could be found reading on the couch, working in the yard, or watching golf and tennis on TV. Right up to the end, he would drive himself to the local library where he borrowed nearly 800 books in the last ten years. He said that reading and watching TV transported him to other places and times without having to leave the comfort of his home. Len also often drove to the grocery store to buy his favorite breakfast foods, oatmeal and bananas. In his last two weeks, he was spotted on a ladder, pruning his Wisteria vine. Weeds in the yard were never safe from him. His energy was a source of wonderment and amazement for his children.Len Straw's children extend their gratitude to the medical staff of Kaiser Hospital San Rafael, who attended to their father carefully and respectfully in the final hours before his heart failed him. As was his wish, there will be no service for him. Donations in his memory may be made to any charity of choice.
Dad is missed beyond words. The loss of him is immeasurable to his children. Their gain from his life shared is infinite. His spirit now embodies all whom he touched.
Published in the Marin Independent Journal on 8/21/2004.

Leonard married Ruth Marie Andrews, daughter of Lawrence Elmer Andrews and Ruth Martin. (Ruth Marie Andrews was born on 27 Jul 1922 in New York and died on 9 Mar 1985 in San Rafael, Marin County, California.)

Leonard next married Living