Max Charles Leiter

Max Charles Leiter, 100, formerly of Sidney, died at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at Miller’s at Oak Pointe, Columbia City, where he was a resident since March 2021.

Born April 14, 1922, in Jackson Twp., Kosciusko County, he was a son of the late Charles and Flossie (Johnson) Leiter. Growing up in the Sidney area, he graduated from Sidney High School in 1940.

Enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corp, he trained as a B-17 bombardier. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 487th Bomb Group in Lavenham, England. Flying 35 harrowing missions over Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge, the group was instrumental in the Allied victory. Returning to the states, he was sent to Texas to train new bombardiers. Shortly after arriving, Victory over Japan occurred. He was honorably discharged. Given the opportunity to join the newly formed U.S. Air Force Reserves, he served until 1982, retiring as a major.

On May 11, 1946, he married Doris I. Raypole. They made their home near Sidney, where they raised three sons. In 1969, they moved to Naples, Fla., and in 1976, the couple began returning to Sidney for the summers. In 2017, they moved to the Oaks Assisted Living Community, Columbia City. Doris died on May 19, 2022.

A self-employed carpenter, mason and part-time farmer, he worked for 25 years throughout the area on various construction projects. Owning and operating Leiter Construction, he was joined by his son, Tom.

Max belonged to the American Legion Post 258 in Pierceton, the former VFW, South Whitley and the Evangelical United Brethren Church of Liberty Mills.

Surviving are three sons, John Leiter and Tom (Linda) Leiter, both of Columbia City and Michael Leiter of Naples, Fla.; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene and Raymond Leiter and two sisters, Irene Barnes and Delores Gaff.

A graveside service is at noon, Saturday, Oct. 29, at the South Whitley Cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until departing to the cemetery, at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley.

Preferred memorials are to the Humane Society of Whitley County.