Leonard N. Foxwell, Sr.

CAMBRIDGE – Leonard Noel Foxwell, Sr. of Cambridge, MD went home to be with his Lord on March 27, 2021.  He was 89.

Born on December 24, 1931 in Lakesville, MD, he was the youngest son of Thomas Houston and Jennie Stevens Foxwell.  Foxwell attended public schools in South Dorchester County and graduated from Crapo High School in 1949.  After serving as a communications dispatcher for the Maryland State Police, he was hired by Cambridge Automotive, a retail affiliate of NAPA Auto Parts, in 1951.  He went on to serve in various capacities for Cambridge Automotive for more than four decades.

On December 21, 1956, Foxwell married Janice Inez Groff, of Cambridge, at the Christ Episcopal Church.  Together, they established Tidewater Kennels, a breeder of American Kennel Club-registered Golden Retrievers, in 1964.  Throughout the 1960s, the Foxwells were a fixture on the East Coast field trial circuit, winning numerous awards and earning a reputation within AKC circles as accomplished trainers.  They owned and operated Tidewater Kennels from their home near Church Creek until 2003.

Foxwell accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior on March 5, 1977, and remained a devout Christian for the rest of his life.  He served multiple terms as president of the board of directors of the Golden Shore Christian School and Christian Liberty Academy, and served as treasurer of Faith Community Church for nearly two decades.  He was a member and devout attendee of the Faith Baptist Fellowship church in Cambridge at the time of his death.

In his later years, Foxwell served as Chairman of the Pauline F. and William D. Robbins Foundation, a philanthropic organization that was established by the estate of his beloved sister and brother-in-law.  Through his leadership, the Robbins Foundation has invested in numerous civic and charitable initiatives to improve Dorchester County’s quality of life.  The most notable investment of his chairmanship was in the Dorchester County YMCA, which was renamed the Pauline F. and William D. Robbins Family YMCA in 2018.

In addition to his wife of 64 years, Foxwell is survived by their two children – Leonard N. (Len) Foxwell (Kerry) and Julia P. Foxwell (Sushant Sidh), both of Easton.  He is also survived by his three grandchildren – Emily G. Dobson, Colleen N. Foxwell and Darren T. Foxwell.

Services will be held on Thursday, April 1, noon at Faith Baptist Fellowship, with the Rev. Randall Blackmon officiating.  Friends may call from 11 a.m. – noon.  Pallbearers will be Darren Foxwell, Leonard Foxwell, Jr., Tony Hayden, Jr., Michael McIntee, Charles Price and Sushant Sidh.  Douglas Foxwell, Robbie Gill, Tony Hayden, Sr., James Laverty and Russell Stevens will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Burial will follow at the Dorchester Memorial Park.

Donations may be made in Foxwell’s memory to Faith Baptist Fellowship, 1312 Race Street, Cambridge, MD 21613, and to the Pauline F. and William D. Robbins Family YMCA, 201 Talbot Avenue, Cambridge, MD 21613. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be made at www.thomasfuneralhomepa.com