Charles “Charlie” Hubbard Leigh
BARTLESVILLE - Charles “Charlie” Hubbard Leigh (age 90) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023, with family by his side. Charles was born to Dr. Harry Leigh and Mary Neighbors Leigh November 14, 1933 in El Paso, TX. He graduated from Austin High School (El Paso) in 1952 then entered Texas Western College (now the University of Texas El Paso) majoring in chemistry.
Upon graduation in 1957, Charles joined Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville as a research chemist. He entered the army in the same year as a 2nd Lt. in anti-aircraft artillery, serving six months active duty. Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Phillips as a chemist at their Plains Copolymer Plant in Borger, Texas. In 1965, he was transferred to the Phillips R&D facility in Bartlesville, where he retired in 1992 after 35 years of service. Charles met Marjorie Ruth (Bloom) Leigh at Phillips and they were married in January of 1968.
Charles actively pursued hobbies and activities throughout his life, including competitive rifle shooting, model railroading, photography, gardening, and volunteering at the Bartlesville Community Center. He was also active in the senior social community. Charles loved to laugh and was a lively conversationalist with an encyclopedic knowledge of science, history, planes, trains, and automobiles.
Charles was preceded in death by his sister Barbara (Leigh) Rees of El Paso, TX, ex-wife Marjorie Ruth (Bloom) Leigh of Bartlesville, OK, and his close companion Helen Alice (Moses) Goodwin of Bartlesville, OK. Survivors include one son James Edward Leigh, daughter-in-law Grace Songmei (Yang) Leigh, and grandson Edward Jiahang Leigh, of Ladera Ranch, CA, one daughter Mary Beth Leigh of Fairbanks, AK, niece Amy Rees Russell of Brooklyn, NY, niece Molly Newman (Rees) Rich of CO, great-niece Dr. Madeline Russell of Philadelphia, PA, and great-nephew Alex Russell of Los Angeles, CA. Charles is also survived many nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren from the Bloom, Vives, and Hopper families.
The family is grateful to all of his caretakers, especially the staff of Bartlesville Assisted Living and Green Country Village for their attentive care of Charles in his final years of life.
In accordance with Charles’ wishes, his ashes will be spread on the grounds behind his beloved childhood residence in El Paso, Texas, a historic home commissioned by his parents and designed by architect Mabel Welch. Services will be private. Friends may wish to give to their favorite charity in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home and Crematory - Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com