A. Richard Leinhauser

Richard Leinhauser, 87, of West Chester, PA, passed away June 19, 2023.

Born September 17, 1935 in Darby, PA, he was a son of the late Alfred and Elizabeth (nee Hartmann) Leinhauser.

Richard was the beloved husband of Ruth Agnes (nee Spillane) Leinhauser; loving father of Richard A. Leinhauser (Ann Marie) and Leigh-Ann Brown (Daniel J.); adoring Pop of Ronan Leinhauser, Danny Brown, Riley Brown, Kai Brown; dear brother of Margaret Leinhauser and brother-in-law of Anne Swords; and proud uncle and great-uncle of Shawn, Joey, Michael, Patrick, Connor, and Ryan Swords.

Pop was a loyal and loving husband. He and Ruth would be celebrating their 63rd Wedding Anniversary on November 5, 2023. Pop enjoyed any time that he was surrounded by family. Of course, he was happiest when engaged with his grandchildren. From attending sporting events to watching lifeguard races; attending school activities to hanging at the park; from hearing about their latest adventures to watching movies, Pop shared their interests as passionately as they did! He savored every minute that he was with his family.

He was a proud Air Force vet and alum of St. James High School and St. Joseph University.

Pop lived life to the fullest through traveling on cruises with Ruth, road trips to Niagara Falls, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Florida; trips to California with family and friends, meeting his sister for lunch or going to the casinos, attending classic car shows with his grandsons, cross-country road trips with his daughter, excursions to the jungle and Machu Picchu, and family trips to Ireland and Germany. 

Embracing all that he did, Richard even loved his jobs! He made lifelong friends at the Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia (RDA) where he found fishing trip buddies who also served as home remodelers. After retiring at 55, Richard’s post-retirement job lasted as long as the RDA with Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. He had great stories of the tax office and his colleagues. Not to mention, most of his family benefitted from his tax expertise. He even worked as a Bayview Park “Park Ranger” (his name for a beach badge checker) where he made many wind surfing friends. He also served as a minister of hospitality at St. Francis of Assisi Church on LBI. Saturday night church was enjoyable for all to attend.

Always in our memories are: his love for Long Beach Island; Thursday night Bowling league; watching baseball games (Go Phils); cheering and crying over the Eagles (Go Birds); watching basketball (the Hawk will Never Die); his many baseball caps; walks, tanning himself and waving to anyone who passed his shore house; nights sitting on the shore house deck; teaching his grandsons the proper way to make Pork Roll, Scrapple, and Omelets; his love for dogs especially Riff; Super Bowl parties; cooking family dinners; his famous cheesecake; Christmas Eve parties; and mornings at the Bay.

Pop was a listener, a friend, a caring man with a positive attitude. He had a remarkable sense of humor, clever wit (sometimes a bit sarcastic) with a warm endearing laugh. Pop loved life. He will be missed terribly but as his son would say, “it was a hell of a run!”

Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Thursday, June 22, 2023 at Ss. Simon and Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Ct., West Chester, PA 19382, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:30 AM. Interment at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.