John William Leathem

Middletown, RI - John William Leathem, 77, of Bayview Park, Middletown, RI, died Monday, February 7, 2011 at home.Born in Troy, NY on September 5, 1933, he was the son of the late Thomas Joseph and Leila Macarthur Leathem.Mr. Leathem served in the United States Navy for 23 years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Later, he worked as a print setter for Raytheon for 15 years before retiring. He was a member of VFW Post 4487 of Middletown and a member of the Fleet Reserve. He enjoyed collecting lighthouses and was an avid Red Sox fan.He is survived by his children, Glen Leathem and his wife, Donna, of Middletown, RI, Betty Ann Ryder and her husband, Mike, of Santee, CA, John W. Leathem, Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Middletown, RI, Gregory T. Leathem of Middletown, RI, Lisa Parte of Wyoming, DE and Bridget Sowers and her husband, Richard, of Portsmouth, RI; thirteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; his brother, Joseph Leathem of Delaware and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Nelson Leathem. Funeral services will be private.Burial with military honors will be in Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, RI.