Lester E. "Gene" Leipheimer, 88, of Hermitage died at 8:22 p.m. Saturday at Sharon Regional Health System.

Born Dec. 8, 1918, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Frank A. and Inez Shields Leipheimer.

He was a 1936 graduate of Sharon High School. In his early years, he was a carpenter with his father at Westinghouse and Calvert Lumber. In 1954, he founded the Leipheimer Insurance Agency and was dedicated to his clients and his agency until his health forced him to retire in 1997.

Mr. Leipheimer was a longtime member of Unity Presbyterian Church of Greenfield. He also was a member of Kedron Lodge 389 F&AM of West Middlesex.

He enjoyed his family, his church, his agency and his home, which he built by himself. He was an avid hunter, particularly enjoying archery hunting, and was an ardent Steelers fan.

During World War II, he served in the Asiatic- Pacific theater as a corporal in the Marine Corps and survived the Battle of Peleis in 1944.

Surviving are a son, Ronald Leipheimer and his wife, Sherry, of Grove City; a grandson, Brian Leipheimer, and his wife, Vienne, of Rockville, Va.; a granddaughter, Cathy Burnheimer, and her husband, Benjamin, of Lower Burrell; a daughter-in-law, Mary Louise Leipheimer of Middleburg, Va.; a great-grandson, Cooper Leipheimer; and great-granddaughters Madalin Burnheimer and Elisa Leipheimer.

His wife, the former Lois H. Yarian, whom he married June 29. 1940, died Jan. 30. 1997. He also was preceded in death by his stepmother, Mary Madge Wallace Leipheimer; a son, Robert E. Leipheimer; and a grandson, Eric J. Leipheimer.

<B>Leipheimer</B> — Friends of Lester E. "Gene" Leipheimer, who died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at <B>Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home</B>, 264 E. State St., Sharon.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Unity Presbyterian Church with the Rev. David Hunt officiating.Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.A Masonic memorial service will be held at 8:45 p.m. today at the funeral home.