Atty. Thomas C.B. Letson

Attorney Thomas C.B. Letson, 75, of Warren, died 3:10 PM Monday, February 23, 2004 at home.

He was born Monday, May 28, 1928, in Bronx, NY, the son of the late Benjamin H. and Ruth Brown Letson.

The family moved to Warren in 1942. Mr. Letson graduated from Champion High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Navy 1945-1946 in the V-5 Naval Air Training Program and had sea duty aboard the USS Pitt.

Mr. Letson attended Central Michigan University, the University of Michigan, Kent State University, and graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in political science in 1949. In 1952, he received the J.D. from the Ohio State College of Law and was admitted to the Ohio State Bar.

Mr. Letson was former McDonald village solicitor; former assistant Trumbull County prosecutor; had been counsel to numerous public boards - Brookfield, Champion, Warren Township, McDonald, Liberty and others; Board of Governors, Labor Section, Ohio State Bar Association; secretary to the Trumbull County Bar Association; had served as general labor counsel for Copperweld Steel; had served on the Champion School Board, including terms as board president; had been a member of the American Arbitration Association Labor Panel, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Labor Panel, and Board of Governors Ohio State Bar Association Labor Law Section. He was a past member of the Trumbull County Children's Services Board, and served on the Human Resources Committee for Humility of Mary Health Partners.

Mr. Letson was Senior Partner at Letson, Griffith, Woodall, Lavelle and Rosenberg, L.P.A. in Warren. The firm was established in 1961 by brothers Tom and Bill Letson. Tom left the local prosecutor's office, and Bill left Shearman, Sterling in New York to form the partnership. They later joined practices with Paul Kightlinger, a long-time single practitioner. Dallas Woodall joined the firm in 1968, and after a term on the Ohio Supreme Court, Honorable Lynn B. Griffith, Sr. became a partner. A later merger with Rosenberg and Rosenberg produced the nucleus of today's firm.

Mr. Letson was an avid skier, golfer and bridge player. He was a recruiter for Ohio State University football and was a life member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association. He belonged to the Buckeye Club and the Trumbull Country Club.

Surviving Mr. Letson are his wife, Maude Jeffers Letson ,whom he married March 23, 1948; three children: Lynne Letson (Edward) Lavelle, Thomas B.J. (Debra Whaley) Letson, and Daniel B. (Sharon Meanor) Letson, all of Warren; a brother, William N. (Linda White) Letson of Howland; a sister, Britta L. (Raymond) Thompson of Braceville; seven grandchildren: Edward D.L. Lavelle, Thomas C.B. Lavelle, Timothea G.P. Letson, Abagail L. Letson, Daniel N. Letson, Jennie L. Dapore and Samantha M. Sekela; and three great-grandchildren: Addison A. Lavelle, Charles E. Lavelle and Mariel A. Dapore.

Preceding Mr. Letson in death are his parents and the mother who raised him, Ellen Marie Skon Letson.

Services for Mr. Letson will be 11:00 AM Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 256 Mahoning Ave. N.W., Warren, Ohio 44483, with Rev. Paul Gaug of Champion Presbyterian Church officiating. Friends may call at the church an hour before the service. Friends may also call 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM Friday at McFarland and Son Funeral Home, 271 North Park Avenue, Warren, Ohio 44481.

Material contributions may be made either to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44512, or to the Alzheimers Association, P.O. Box 321, Canfield, Ohio 44406.

Send condolences and view this obituary at www.mcfarlandfuneral.com .