Leonard Sasser

Leonard Ralph Sasser, 85, of Elizabethtown passed away Friday, January 3, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Rosa Sasser, his wife Helen Virginia Nicks Sasser, and one son George Lee Sasser. He is survived by two sons: Allen Sasser of Topsail Island and Keith Sasser of Goldsboro, three grandchildren: Joel Sasser, Laurie Rush and husband Stewart, Lynn Smith and husband Trevor, and one great grandchild Owen Rush.
Leonard Ralph Sasser, known to most of us in the Christmas tree industry as "Mr. Ralph", began his lifelong career of public service in the U.S. Army during the early 1950's. He went on to become a County Assistant Agriculture Extension agent in Duplin County and eventually worked his way up to District Director. In fact, when he retired from the state extension service, he was District Extension Chairman overseeing 17 counties.
Among his other accomplishments Mr. Ralph worked with North Carolina blueberry growers and initiated the Blueberry Festival, served as a Master in the St. Johns Lodge #13 out of Kenansville, was a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, served as President of the NC Christmas Tree Growers Assoc. and a member of the Elizabethtown Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 6, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Elizabethtown Baptist Church with Rev. Chris Carroll and Dr. David Elks officiating.
The family will receive friends after the service in the church. Burial will take place in the Sasser Family Cemetery in Goldsboro on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Southeastern Carolina Crossroads Inc. c/o Bladen Baptist Assoc., P.O. Box 62,137 Mercer Mill Rd, Elizabethtown, NC 28337.