Ray A. Leibensperger, 94, of East Texas, died May 9, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He grew up in East Texas, the son of Esther (née Bortz) and Allen Leibensperger and graduated from Emmaus High School in 1948.

He joined the National Guard and married his high school sweetheart, Nancy (née Weida) before leaving for Korea.

He served his country during the Korean War as an Army Sgt. 1st Class, spending seven months in the motor pool in the combat zone of Pusan Harbor. He earned the Korean Service Medal as well as a Bronze Star. He received his honorable discharge from the Army May 9, the same day of his passing. After his discharge, he and his wife settled in his hometown of East Texas, where they raised their three children.

When he returned from Korea in 1952, he followed in his father’s footsteps by purchasing his first four school buses and the Leibensperger School Transportation business grew steadily. His gleaming yellow fleet became a familiar sight for generations of school children by serving the East Penn, Northampton and Salisbury Township school districts. In 1971, he formed Leibensperger Transportation Sales, which sold new school buses as well as airport shuttle-type white buses.

In 1977, his son Russ joined the business and the father-son Leibensperger legacy continued. By 1982, the expansion required a move from East Texas to a new complex on Route 100 in Macungie. A portion of the business was sold to Laidlaw Transit in 1987. Still, the Leibensperger bus sales business kept the name synonymous with school buses in his eastern Pennsylvania territory for decades thereafter.

He could build and/or fix anything and he was selfless in sharing his expertise.

He became an avid golfer later in his career and could frequently be found on the links at Brookside Country Club. He loved boating weekends on Lake Wallenpaupack and later in his golden years divided his golfing and boating time between the Lehigh Valley, the Chesapeake and Florida.

He was a charter member of the National School Bus Association and served two separate three-year terms as president of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association. He was a board member of the Lower Macungie Township Recreation Commission, president and treasurer of the East Texas Playground Association and a member of the Emmaus Kiwanis Club for many years.

He is survived by his brother, Bob, of Canton, Ohio; children: Anne, of East Texas, Russ (Donna), of Zionsville and Lynne Roth (Jack), of Wescosville; grandchildren, Amanda DeMarco (Joe), of East Haven, Conn., Adam (Cory), of Arnold, Md., Brian Roth (Catherine), of Bethlehem and Matt Roth (Maggie), of Oakton, Va.; great-grandchildren: Anna, Laura and Katie Roth, baby-boy-to-be Leibensperger/DeMarco, Dean; Dana Doubek; nephews, Allen, John and Kurt and their families; beloved caregivers, Erwin and Grace Pedroso, Anna Ungureanu, Colleen Ecker, Elena Capparell and Julie Ungureanu.

He was predeceased by his wife; sister, Madlyn Haines; brother-in-law, Paul Haines; sister-in-law, Donna; companion, Jean McFadden.

A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. May 18 in the Stephens Funeral Home, Inc. 274 N. Krocks Road, Allentown. Friends and family may call 9:30-11 a.m. May 18 in the funeral home. Military honors will conclude the service.

Contributions may be made toward a tree to be planted in his honor at https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/ray-a-leibensperger-tree-of-life/13307/ or a charity of one’s choice.