Robert Gerald Leighton

Robert Gerald Leighton, 82, of Prince George, VA, passed away April 7, 2019. Born in Bremerton, WA, son of Robert P. Leighton and Lucy Belle Key Leighton. He was a dedicated husband and father. When he was 17, he left home and joined the Air Force where he served for several years. Upon leaving the AF he worked as a contractor with Bendix Corp, he helped set up flight tracking stations in several countries, then moved to train in the use of flight control systems. His work apexed while working with NASA on the Mercury missions where he could be seen as a mission tracker in the "Friendship 7" documentary. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 53 years, Mary C Leighton, and daughter-in-law Doris Leighton. He is survived by his sisters Caren (Bob) Garrison of Nehalem, OR, Mary Anne (Brous) Beck of Seabeck, WA, and Patricia (Bruce) Conn, of Bremerton, WA, his sons Robert K and William L, daughter-in-law Kate, and grandchildren Spencer, Emma, William, Robert, Lucybelle, Peter, as well as numerous Cousins and friends. Service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Prince George, VA at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Interment will follow at Albert G Horton Memorial Veterans Cemetary, Suffolk VA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.