WILMINGTON — Albert Joseph “Al” Lederle, 83, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2022 at his home in Wilmington, NC.
Al was born January 20, 1939 in Shanghai, China to the late LCDR (Ret. Navy) Arthur Walter and Catherine Mathias Lederle.
At the start of WWII Al, along with his older brother, the late Arthur Eugene “Sonny” Lederle and their parents returned to the US when their father was reassigned to sea duty.
Al graduated from Wakefield High School, Arlington, VA, in 1957. He received a Football Athletic Scholarship to the Georgia Institute of Technology as an All American Tight End, and received his BS Degree in Industrial Management Engineering, Class of 1963.
Al served in the United States Army from 1958 until honorably discharged in September, 1964.
On August 15, 1959, Al and his high school sweetheart, June Walton Lederle, married and began their beautiful, special and loving 63 years of marriage and family.
In 1961 Al was the 20th round draft pick as a “Future” by the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. Al was later traded to the NFL’s Washington Redskins where, from 1963 to 1970, he played Semi-Professional Football as Defensive Tackle for their farm system The Roanoke Buckskins.
Al worked for IBM from 1967 to 1994. He retired on December 31, 1994 as the Senior National Account Director for the United States Postal Service (USPS) when he and June relocated to Wilmington, NC to “follow the sun.”
Al enjoyed his family & friends, boating, working in the yard and, for the past 18 years, looked forward to the annual “Snowbird” trip he and June took to the Florida Keys.
Al is survived by his loving wife, June Walton Lederle of Wilmington, NC; their daughter Catherine Martin “Cathie” Lederle of Richmond, VA and their son Arthur Walton “Walt” (Ellen) Lederle of Hampstead, NC; their grandchildren Alan Joseph “AJ” (Erica) Lederle of Springfield, VA; Alex Walton (Meghan) Lederle of Birmingham, AL and Corbin Lederle Spivey of Richmond, VA; their great grandchildren Ashton Edward, Audric Walton, Emma Bernadette and Evelyn Annette “Evie”. Al is also survived by his brother-in-law Louis Edgar “Ed” (Lesley) Walton; and nieces Kelly Walton (Brian) Miller, Kristen Walton (McNeil) Wester and their families, all of Charlotte, NC.
A celebration of Al’s Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Richmond, VA chapter; Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team Laura’s Girls & Friends; or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
