Bertha Viola Leitch Sharper, 84, of Huntingtown passed away April 2, 2014 at Chesapeake Shores Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lexington Park. She was born December 12, 1929 in Owings to Joseph Arthur and Maude Iola (Williams) McKenny. Bertha was raised in Owings and attended Fairview Elementary and Calvert High School, graduating in 1947.

She married James Mason Leitch on September 20, 1948 and they lived in Huntingtown.

Bertha was primarily a homemaker, and was also a substitute teacher in Calvert County for seventeen years. She later operated a child care center at Huntingtown Elementary for seven years, and retired from the school system in June 1994.

Mr. Leitch passed away in 1995, and on October 6, 2000, Bertha married Herbert Sharper, who passed away in 2009.

She was a member of All Saint Episcopal Church, where she was on the Alter Guild and taught Sunday school. She was also a member of the Huntingtown American Legion Auxiliary and Calvert Memorial Auxiliary, where she volunteered in the gift shop. Bertha loved reading, and going to the exercise group at Calvert Pines Senior Center. She also enjoyed reading, her pet dog, Belle, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents and husbands, Mason Leitch and Herbert Sharper.

She is survived by a daughter Mary Emily Crumbacker of Prince Frederick, a son Richard Colton Leitch "Rick" of Delray Bay, FL; grandchildren Ginny Huerta-Kellam of Laurel, DE, Jillian Schreiner, and Justin Leitch, both of Baltimore. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Ava, Chloe, and Cameron; a brother William Ernest McKenny and wife Jeanette of Winston Salem, NC, and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.