Col. Albert Leonard Deal III (Ret), of Lexington, former Colonel and professor of Math at VMI, died Saturday, August 1, 2009 at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital.

He was 71 years old.

He was born August 31, 1937 in Hickory, North Carolina, the son of the late A. L. Deal II and Alvena H. Deal.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Loretta Chittum Deal of Lexington and his sister and her husband, Becky D. and Arthur Burgess of Hickory, North Carolina.

He is also survived by other family members: Caroleen C. Cornwell and her husband, Eddie of Buena Vista and Gordon add Peggy Chittum of Amelia, Virginia; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

As a member of the VMI faculty from September 1, 1962 until his retirement June 1, 2003, he earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959 and 1962 and received his Ph.D. in mathematics in 1965 from the same university. When VMI decided to add computer science to the mathematics department, Colonel Deal decided to go back and get his Masters degree in computer science, which he received from the University of Virginia in 1988 - twenty-three years after he received his Ph.D. He taught as a Visiting Lecturer at Mary Baldwin College for three years. He taught in the VMI Evening College and in the Summer Sessions. He taught an intermediate level course of Microsoft Word for the faculty and staff at VMI. He received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1984 and 1995. He served on no less than thirteen major faculty/staff committees at various times during his career and led his department as Head for five years, from 1969 through 1974. For six years, he volunteered to serve as the Athletic Department Ticket Manager.

At his retirement, he received the Virginia Military Institute Achievement Medal for four longevity knots in recognition of his extraordinary service to VMI as a professor of mathematics for forty-one years. Being a "tarheel" through and through, he also developed an equally passionate attachment to VMI and his cadets.

While Colonel Deal originally was a civilian clothed professor, he voluntarily donned the Virginia Militia uniform and wore it proudly and guarded its heritage jealously until he had to revert to civilian clothes due to his battle with Multiple Sclerosis and having to be in a wheelchair. He continued to teach from his wheelchair for many years, with absolutely no diminution in his effectiveness or dilution of his acerbic wit. A master teacher, he insisted upon the very highest standard of conduct and concentration from his cadets and he was quick to remind them that the VMI military system did not stop at the door of his classroom. He had a warm heart and a genereous concern for his cadets, generations of whom have benefitted from the habits and attention to detail and analytical thinking upon which he insisted in every section of every class for forty-one years. He never merely presented information - he taught.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, handball and tennis in the past and was an excellent cook.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2009 at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel. The family received friends Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Socieyt, P. O. Box 4594, New York, NY 10163-4594 or to the Tockbridge SPCA, 10 Animal Place, Lexington, VA 24450.

Arrangements are being handled by the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Buena Vista, Virginia.