CHESHIRE - Donald Wallace Leach, Jr., better known as "Walkie", passed away at his home in Cheshire, on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at age 84.Walkie was born on Dec. 22, 1931, at New Haven Hospital in New HavenT. He grew up in Wallingford with his parents, Donald Wallace Leach and Carolyn Kingman Leach. Walkie graduated from the Phelps School in Malvern, Pa., in 1953. Subsequently he moved west to attend Colorado State University. While at school he worked as a ranch hand at the Medano Ranch in Hooper, Colo. It is there that he met his wife of 59 years, Joyce Marie Rogers. They were married on June 8, 1957. Following the birth of his first two children, Walkie moved back to Connecticut, and chose Cheshire as his home. Through the years, Walkie was an active member of the Cheshire Grange, the local 4-H, and a founding member of the Cheshire Dog Training Club. Walkie served his community as a U.S. Postal service letter carrier for 22 years. He was a hardworking, caring man who never met a stranger.Walkie is preceded in his death by his mother, Carolyn Kingman Leach; and his father, Donald Wallace Leach.He is survived by his two sisters, Sally Mixsell and her husband, Hank, of Greenfield, Mass., and Melissa Dickson and her husband, Rick, of Fairfield. He is also survived by his four children, Donald Wallace Leach, III and his partner, Jeff Perkins, of Cheshire, Kimberley Grace Hicks and her husband, Rick, of King George, Va., Christine Leach and her husband, Derek Burton, of Cheshire, and Carolyn Joyce Brown, of Middle Haddam. Additionally he leaves behind his 10 grandchildren, Jason Bettum, Christopher Bettum, David Kaiser, Daniel Kaiser, Adrien Aucoin, Alexander Aucoin, Alicia Aucoin, Niletta Burton, Jacob Burton, and Arielle Aucoin; as well as three great-grandchildren.A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. at Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, 59 Main St., Cheshire. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family and there are no calling hours. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire is assisting with arrangements. In honor of his mother who he adored who died of breast cancer memorial contributions may be made to the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, 185 Main St., New Britain, CT 06050. For online condolences, to share a story or a photo, please visit www.fordfh.com.