Leo Patrick Jarboe

Leo Patrick Jarboe (Age 90) Native Washingtonian, passed away on July 27, 2017 surrounded by his loving family in New Oxford, PA. Leo was born on October 12, 1926, youngest of 10 children to the late Mary and Andrew Jarboe in Washington, DC. He was predeceased in life by all of his siblings. Leo attended Bladensburg High School. As a young teenager, Leo swam for the Boy's Club of Washington, DC. He was a lifeguard, received national recognition for his success in youth water safety programs, taught swimming and won many awards and trophies in breast stroke and free style competitions. The Washington Star reported that Leo would be the next "Johnny Weismuller or Buster Crabb," adding that Leo was "keen, quick, faithful to his training with a contagious smile and personality plus". Those attributes would serve Leo and others well. At age 17 Leo joined the Navy and proudly served his country on the USS Callaghan. Noted in the book The Last Destroyer , on January 4, 1945, two men were washed overboard during a mission and after attempts to rescue them had failed, a line was tied to Jarboe and he dove in. "With powerful measured strokes, he set out for the two sailors who were floating together." He reached the two men and got a grip on them both enabling a winch to pull all three back to the ship. On July 28, 1945 the Callaghan became the last US Navy destroyer sunk in combat during one of the last Kamikaze attacks of World War II. The author describes how Leo Jarboe and GMC Maiwald were forced to leap as the bow rose to 30 feet or more above the water. The two jumped at the same time. Leo spent the next six hours in the dark, oil slicked Pacific before being rescued. Leo never forgot the 47 fallen sailors, honoring them annually for many years later at Callaghan reunions. After his service in the Navy, Leo married the woman he would spend the next 70 years with, Vivian Louise Davis. Together, they would raise four children, instilling in them faith, integrity, honesty and hard work by the example they lived. After the war, Leo became a plumber by trade and worked for Steven's Plumbing & Heating. The majority of his plumbing career was spent working for the Architect of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. where he retired after more than 25 years of service. After retirement, Leo and Vivian remained active in the Veterans of Foreign War Post in Morningside, MD. He loved harness races at Rosecroft Racetrack , playing the "slots" with Vivian, fishing and crabbing on the Potomac, puzzles, old movies and cooking for Vivian. And whenever anybody in the family or Oxon Hill neighborhood needed a plumber, Leo was there to help with a smile. In their later years, Leo and Vivian moved to New Oxford , PA. to be closer to their daughter and some of their many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. Leo is survived by his wife, Vivian, children, James (Moya) of Sneads Ferry, NC, Michael (Susan) of La Plata, MD, Donald (Denise) of Huntingtown, MD, Patricia (Nathan) of New Oxford, PA; 11 grandchildren, Donnie (Lauren), Stephanie, Kelley (Billy), Sarah (Tim), Kaitlyn (Adam), Josiah (Chelsea) Molly, Jacob, Hannah, Sonya and Gregg; 14 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews and friends. There will be a viewing at Feiser Funeral Home, New Oxford, PA. 717-624-7261 on August 1, 2017. Interment Services will be at Cheltenham Maryland Veterans Cemetery on August 2, 2017 at 10:15 a.m. There will be a viewing at Feiser Funeral Home, New Oxford, PA. 717-624-7261 on August 1, 2017. Interment Services will be at Cheltenham Maryland Veterans Cemetery on August 2, 2017 at 10:15 a.m.
 

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