Leslie Anne Bustard was awakened on Mercy’s shores just before sunrise, on April 14, 2023, following a three-year battle with breast cancer and melanoma.
Born Leslie Anne Symons on February 28, 1968, she was the daughter of Richard Harry Symons and Anne Carey Symons. With her brother David, she grew up at 810 Woodsdale Road in Wilmington, DE and was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church, PCA in Wilmington, DE.
Leslie attended Wilmington Christian School through 12th grade and graduated from Millersville University with a degree in education. Her first teaching job was at Chapelgate Christian Academy in Marriottsville, MD. Soon after the birth of her first child she left Chapelgate and focused on raising children. Leslie helped found Wheatland Presbyterian Church, PCA and was instrumental in much of the work there—including hosting care groups, creating their first women’s conference (“Bloom Where You’re Planted”), co-founding WHEET (their home educational co-op), and more.
Homeschooling was the major work of her life, and in addition to homeschooling her three daughters and teaching in various other co-ops, she developed curriculum for Veritas Press, founded the West End Shakespeare Company, and was the producer of a number of large theater productions through The Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts. When her children had grown, she returned to full time teaching, this time at Veritas Academy, in Leola, PA. In addition to teaching Literature and Bible to middle schoolers, she also worked with foreign exchange students and ran the drama department.
As vice president of Square Halo Books, Inc., Leslie developed and hosted their podcast series “The Square Halo,” as well as planned their conferences. In 2022 she had her first book published, Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children (co-edited with daughter Carey and their friend Théa Rosenburg). Her second book, The Goodness of the Lord in the Land of Living: Selected Poems, was published in 2023. Leslie recently contributed to two new books, Ordinary Saints: Living Everyday Life to the Glory of God and Why We Create: Reflections on the Creator, the Creation, and Creating. Leslie was also a contributor to the The Cultivating Project, The Black Barn Online, Story Warren, Anselm Society, and Calla Press, as well as having her poetry appear in other journals. Additionally, she shared her writings and musings through her website: PoeticUnderpinnings.com. Leslie’s next book is in the works, currently titled Tiny Thoughts That I’ve Been Thinking: Selected Writings of Leslie Anne Bustard.
Leslie’s greatest gift was in her generous service, in the way she enabled others around her to more vibrantly love God and their neighbors—and to more creatively express that love in all facets of their lives. Leslie embodied so naturally the glad, eternal vision that animated her service. She was not afraid to live life at a walking pace, noting the small beauties and savoring the small delights of the hours, the people, and the creation around her. Her eyes so often seemed to sparkle with the light of a better kingdom, with a wordless beckoning, an invitation, as if she knew some wonderful secret and was forever waiting for the rest of us to catch on. Leslie was a mysterious mixture of open arms, warm smiles, listening ears, and enfolding heart. She was a poet, but she was also a poem. To those blessed to know her, Leslie was both a giver, and a gift.
Her husband Ned, and daughters Carey Anne, Margaret Ellen, and Elspeth Iona survive her, as well as her brother W. David Symons of Newark, DE.
A memorial service will be held April 29th at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601. The family will receive guests at 11 a.m. and the service will begin at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at Wheatland Presbyterian Church, 1125 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in honor of Leslie’s memory to Wheatland Presbyterian Church (1125 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603, and put “Leslie’s Trees” in the memo line) or make a contribution toward her legacy through Square Halo Books, Inc. (P.O. Box 18954, Baltimore MD 21206, and put “Leslie’s Next Book” in the memo line).