Leona Ludwig Zerby, age 95, died Monday, September 25, 2023, at Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg, MD.

She was born on March 31, 1928, to Clara (Hoch) and Robert Ludwig on her parents' farm, Ash Meadow Dairy, located in the Hegins Valley of Pennsylvania. She completed her elementary education in a one-room school, then graduated from Hegins Township High School in 1945. The youngest of six sisters (Marion, Mildred, Grace - who died as a toddler, Esther, and Margaret), she milked cows by hand, twice a day, every day until she went away to college. She liked to add that her father then replaced her with a milking machine. She was selected as Schuylkill County's Dairy Queen for 1947.

Leona's college education began at Mansfield State Teachers College and finished with a degree in home economics from Temple University in 1954. She married her high school sweetheart, Ray Zerby, in 1948.

Her teaching career in home economics started with 10 years at Mount Holly Junior High School in Mount Holly, New Jersey, then 25 years at Sherwood High School in Olney, Maryland. Leona and Ray lived for over 42 years on a 15-acre farm near Urbana, Maryland, where they grew and sold apples, peaches, and Christmas trees. Their later years were occupied with family genealogical pursuits.

She was preceded in death by her five sisters as well as her husband. She is survived by her two sons, Chris and Barry, and two grandchildren, Rebecca and Andrew.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com