Father Leo Werner

Father Leo Edward Werner, who was retired and resided at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Wheeling, died on May 5,2010, at Good Shepherd. Father Werner was born May 13, 1919, in Wheeling to the late Leo J. and Margaret (Driscoll) Werner. Father Werner, who was a member of the Knights of Columbus, attended Cathedral Grade School and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling. He was a graduate of St. Charles College in Catonsville, Md., and completed his philosophical and theological studies at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore and Roland Park. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John J. Swint at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling May 24, 1951. As a priest of the diocese, Father Werner served as an associate pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in White Sulphur Springs in 1951, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Parkersburg from 1951 to 1957,Blessed Sacraments Parish in South Charleston from 1957 to 1958 and St. Mary Parish in Star City in 1958. Father Werner served as the pastor at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Ravenswood from 1958 to 1962, SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Oak Hill from 1962 to 1976,Christ the King Parish in Dunbar from 1976 to 82 and St. Paul Parish in Weirton from 1982 to 1983. He served as temporary administrator at Corpus Christi Parish in Wheeling in 1983 and pastor at St. Peter Parish in Farmington and its Mission from 1983 to 1990. Father Werner retired from active ministry on June 20, 1990. Father Werner was preceded in death by his brother, Howard J. Werner of Las Vegas, Nevada. A memorial Mass will be held at the Bishops Chapel at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Priests Health and Retirement Association, c/o Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, P.O. Box 230, Wheeling, WV 26003. Funeral arrangements are being provided by Kepner Funeral Homes in Wheeling.