Obituary of Leland Gumble

Leland Gumble, age 89, a lifelong resident of Paupack died Thursday, November 19, 2020 at home. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Harriet A. (Kratzer) Gumble. Born December 9, 1930, in Honesdale, he was the son of the late Leland Sr. and Anna (Seltzer) Gumble. He was a graduate of Hawley High School, Class of 1948. Leland was the former President and second generation owner of Gumble Bros, Inc. in Paupack. He was a member of Paupack United Methodist Church where he served as past Treasurer of the Trustees, he had also been Treasurer of the Paupack Cemetery Association. He was a Founding Member of the Wallenpaupack Medical Foundation and was a former Director of the Hawley Bank, also a former member of Builders Mart of America and the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Leland was an avid skier, loved golfing and sailing and was a private small plane pilot. Leland began flying planes in his younger years, piloting a J-3 Piper Cub. Everyone enjoyed hearing him tell the story of his experience as a young volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol. He had been flying with a group of pilots searching for a plane crash that had taken place a few days earlier. In the process, he ran into thick fog, and was low on fuel. Luckily, a clear, green patch opened up in the fog, and he landed the plane. Not knowing where he was, a man approached the plane in amazement, and Leland recognized him as a friend from school that he hadn’t seen in a few years. His friend informed him that he just landed on Brewster’s golf course (now Hemlock Farms) and they took a little time to catch up. In the meantime, the fog had cleared to a great extent and Leland knew he had just enough fuel to get back to the airport, now knowing where he had just landed. So he took the plane off from the golf course and followed the highway back to the airport. He was greeted by a group of fellow pilots, wondering why he was a little late getting back. When he recounted his story, their jaws dropped, wondering how a young pilot pulled this off. His love of flying continued on, flying for many years with his cousin Charlie in his Cessna. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law: Susan and Richard Campfield of Greentown; his son and daughter-in-law: Dana and Theresa Gumble of Honesdale; three grandchildren: Amanda Quinby, Christina Woerner and her husband Robert, and Jonathan Gumble and his wife Beth; and two great grandchildren: Sophia and Olivia Woerner. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Debra Gelatt. Private cremation will be held at Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. Memorials may be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611 or www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.