Roderick "Squeaky" Leon Milstead, Sr., age 80, of Bryans Road, Maryland

On Thursday, December 21, 2023, Roderick Leon Milstead, Sr. affectionately known as Leon, "Squeaky" quietly departed this life at the Ovalstone Comfort Home in Bowie, Maryland. Leon was born on June 2, 1943, in Chicamuxen, Maryland to the late Thelma Milstead Bond and the late Roderick King.

Leon was educated in the Charles County  public school system, while also working at night for the Naval Ordinance Station, Indian Head Md his senior year. He graduated from Pomonkey High School in 1962 and continued to work at the Naval Ordinance Station until 1963.  In 1964, he accepted a job at St. Elizabeth Hospital only to leave that job and join the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC in December of 1964. On March 31, 2000, after 38 years of government service, Leon retiredDuring his last year of high school, he fell in love with his classmate Veronica"Elnora" Bowman. After three years of dating, they married on July 3, 1965 and their union produced one daughter, Lisa Dionne and one son Roderick Leon, Jr."Rod".

Leon was baptized at an early age and joined the Alexandria United Methodist Church, Chicamuxen, Md. In 1990, he joined the Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, Pisgah, Md and became a very active member. He later joined the Trustee board, enjoyed singing with the sanctuary and men's choir along with serving on other church committees. Leon also loved fishing, hunting, watching old western movies and playing the Maryland lottery.  Leon was an avid bowler. He especially enjoyed bowling on the AFGE Saturday Night Mixed, Tuesday AM Mixed and the Inez Golden Keglers Senior Bowling Leagues.  He was an active member of the African American Heritage Society of Charles County and the Pomonkey High School Alumni Association. He could fix and repair anything, His family would call him Mr. Fix it.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife Veronica "Elnora" of 58 years, daughter Lisa Marshall (Marvin), son Roderick, Jr "Rod" (Risha), seven grandchildren, Kayla, Ashley and Dillon Marshall, Misa, Mila, Malya Milstead, Karima Williams and one great grandson Ezra. His siblings, Alfred (Catherine) Milstead, Francis Milstead, Winston (Gloria) Milstead, Vivian Dorsey and Rhonda Taylor. His special aunt Ruth Simmons and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

His Viewing will be held from 9:00 am until time of Service, 11:00 am, Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.

Interment, Smith Chapel Church Cemetery, 7130 Poorhouse Road, Pisgah, Maryland 20646.

On Wednesday, January 3rd at 11:00 am, please click on the link below to live stream the service.
Please make sure when viewing the services that the volume located in the right lower corner (where it says "live") on the viewing screen is turned up (the bars should be blue).
The streaming will begin after the final family viewing.  Therefore, there may be a delay before the service appears on the screen. Thank you.

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream