Axelson, Leland John (Lee)

Leland John (Lee) Axelson, 85, of Blacksburg, Va., died on Thursday, May 6, 2010. He was born on November 7, 1924, to Roy and Opal Axelson in Seattle, Wash. Lee is survived by his wife of 61 years, Julein Paulson Axelson; and his children, Andrea Howard and her husband, Donald, of Columbia, S.C., Marta Brinberg and her husband, David, of Blacksburg, Va., and Paul Axelson and his wife, Cheryl, of Marco Island, Fla. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Lee and Erik Howard and Mimi and Isaac Brinberg. He had two brothers, Tony Axelson, who currently lives in Auburn, Wash., and Edwin Axelson, who preceded him in death. Lee was a retired professor of sociology with a research interest in marriage and the family. He taught at Florida State and Colorado State Universities before coming to Virginia Tech in 1977 where he retired in 1989. A memorial service will be held 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg with Gary Schroeder as pastor. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to the United Way of Montgomery, Radford, and Floyd, 111 W. Main St., Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or to the Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 600 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, Va. 24060. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, Va.