Dollie Helen (Walker) Leach

Dollie Helen (Walker) Leach, age 89, of Halls, passed away at her home on November 6, 2024. She was born on September 6, 1935, in the Straight Creek Community of Claiborne County, TN, to Rome and Denver Walker.

Dollie moved to Halls at the age of 10 and remained on her family property until her passing. She was a 1954 graduate of Halls High School and was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church for many years. Dollie married her husband Ralph Leach on Christmas Eve of 1956. She worked at Halls Elementary as a secretary and then at Dunn and Bradstreet until she had her daughter and son, choosing to stay home to care for them. When Dollie returned to the work force, she started at Knox County Teachers Federal Credit Union as the manager. Afterward, she became the first female school bus driver in Tennessee. She was the Senior Bus owner/operator for Knox County Schools. Dollie drove her own bus until September 30, 2021, at age 86. She was a member of the Halls Business and Professional Board and the Halls Women’s League and made it to the Halls High Alumni Wall of Fame, where she was inducted in 2019.

Preceded in death by parents; Rome and Denver Walker; husband Arnold Ralph Leach, and special cousin, Claude Willis.

Dollie is survived by children Patti Leach Mash (Dewayne), Mark Leach (Kim), grandsons Justin Mash (Alli) and Clay Leach (RJ), great grandchildren Kennedy Mash, Asher Mash, and Roman Leach, special family, Dora Willis, Elise Dover (Scott), Christie Dietz (Robbie), Gavin Dover, Justin Johnson (Meredeth), William Blaire, Matthew and Henry Johnson, sisters-in-law Sarah Ridenour Mays and Chris Leach, several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Mynatt Funeral Home, Halls Chapel on Sunday, November 10, 2024, from 12:00-2:00 PM with a service to follow; Rev. Jeff Leach and Jonathan Judy officiating. Family and friends will go in procession to Woodhaven Memorial Gardens for interment following a chapel service. Pallbearers will be Justin Mash, Clay Leach, Tony Walker, Gary Underwood, Tony Williams, and Butch Butcher. Honorary pallbearers will be the Knox County bus owner operators. Online condolences may be left below at www.mynattfh.com