Leslie Ellwood Zimmerman

Long standing Washington, PA business owner, Leslie E. Zimmerman, passed away Sunday at the age of 85. He owned The Zimmerman Gallery on Allison Ave. and prior to that business he owned Goodwill Products and L.E. Zimmerman Company from the same location starting in 1949. He was born on August 30, 1925, in Washington, PA to George Leslie Zimmerman and Ethel Prigg Zimmerman. George was an attorney and Ethel was a hard working entrepreneur. On September 26, 1944, Les joined the Army and served in World War II. He was a Private First Class with the 1279 Regimental Combat Team, “The Bushmasters” combat unit, and served in the Philippine Islands. Les was wounded by gun fire during the war but refused a purple heart because he felt his fellow soldiers deserved it more. He did receive and accept the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Upon his return from the Army, he attended Washington & Jefferson College. At the young age of 24 Les’ mother passed away suddenly, so he left college and took over her plastics business, Goodwill Products. He married Jeanne Knotts and together they had one daughter, Deborah Zimmerman. Les and Jeanne divorced. Les began his own artificial flower business called L.E. Zimmerman Company. This is when he met Margaret Menego-Mulac. They married in 1966 and Les became step-father to Marlane Linda Mulac. Les had many hobbies but the two that were closest to his heart were building his log home on Hickory Hill in Waynesburg, PA and the other was being in the great outdoors. He was a true bird hunter and even bred English Setters. His dogs were truly a big part of his heart; from Rocky to Red Baron, Spuds to Jason, and finally Jason II who was an 83rd birthday gift from grand-daughter Rebecca. Not only has Les shown many talents in artistic drawing, hunting, sales and business, he has also established himself as a writer, writing “The 52 Week Grouse Season”. When it comes to Grouse, bird hunting or the cabin in Waynesburg, Les has been the topic or mentioned in various magazine articles, newspaper articles and books such as A Tribute to Roger Latham and A Hunter's Road: A Journey with Gun and Dog Across the American Uplands. Les spent many hours dedicated to wildlife preservation on his property in Waynesburg, PA. He dedicated 20 of his own managed acres to preservation and 40 rented acres for wildlife study. On a map titled Hickory Hill Wildlife Study Area – Greene County, PA USA, one can view the many trails cut into the land by Les himself. There are the Roger Latham Trail, Don Titus Trail, Paul Carson Trail, Glen Barnes Trail, Ned Smith Trail, Don Whitlatch Trail, Jim Foote Trail and one designated area called the Larry Barth Bird Study. His log home was featured in the 2006 Greene County Calendar for the month of August. Co-Founder of the Pennsylvania Grouse Association in 1973, he was the Habitat Committee Chairman and he volunteered on the RGS Greater Pittsburg Area Chapter Sportsmen’s Banquet Committee for 18 years, having received an RGS 10-year Volunteer Service Award in 1989. Les was a long standing member of the Ruffed Grouse Society, Quail Forever, PA Bird Dog Association, Warrior Trail Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, The Warrior Trail Association, The American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175, and Charter Member of A.H.O.B.W.P.H. and L.O.D.G.H. A life member of Men of the Feather; men dedicated to the sport of hunting, sharing experiences and friendship involving the great outdoors. Les is predeceased by his wife, Margaret L Zimmerman, both parents, aunts and uncles. Surviving are daughter Deborah Zimmerman of Pittsburgh, PA; step-daughter Marlane Nason of Wake Forest, NC; grand-daughter Rebecca Finkelman (Michael) of New Market, MD; grand-daughter Jill Luginsland (Brian) of Germantown, MD; grand-nephew Billy Simpson; special friend Mary Jane; and many more close friends. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to the Ruffed Grouse Society, Greater Pittsburgh Area Chapter; Quail Forever; PA Bird Dog Association; the Warrior Trail Association; Church of the Covenant Washington PA or the American Legion. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 20th, in Church of the Covenant, 267 East Beau Street, Washington. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery.