Our daughter married into LeRoy's family on January 20, 2013. Getting to know the family before and after the marriage, then having the privilege of spending lots of "guy time" with LeRoy since, we became very close.

LeRoy would have fit in very well here: he did some shooting; more important, he made sure his two older grandkids were taught how to shoot properly, including NRA competitions with the AR. But mostly, LeRoy was an artist in metal. I saw it in the cars he restored: a 1940 Ford pickup, a 1932(?) 5-window Ford coupe; a model T; a 1932 Ford roadster.
The bodywork, paintwork, upholstery all looked slick. But what impressed me was looking at the brake and fuel lines under the chassis where no one would usually look. Absolutely meticulous. This was just a post-retirement hobby for LeRoy.

His career was as an aerospace welder. I heard from one of the buddies he hung out with in the hangars at Gillespie Field that LeRoy was the only person certified to do a specific weld in the Space Shuttles. I don't know what the weld was, whether in a rocket motor, in the shuttle fuselage, or where. I'll try to find that out. Because I want the two granddaughters we share, Audrey and Natalie, to grow up knowing that "our Grandpa built spaceships". I've promised his wife Linda that will be part of the legacy he leaves behind. Not only did he "build spaceships", but if the statement was correct, it means every Space Shuttle flew only because LeRoy had done his artistic magic with an exotic metal.

Of course, it was probably those exotic metals, along with the solvents and the Agent Orange exposure he got in the Navy in Vietnam, that made his bladder cancer so aggressive and invasive. Unlike mine, which was caught early and seems--so far--to be manageable without bladder surgery, his was caught late; despite my getting him to great urologists at UCSD he failed conservative therapy and had to have his bladder removed. But that didn't do it. A few years later he showed signs of metatastis of the bladder cancer to the bones and beyond. Chemo- and immuno-therapy failed to stop it, and he couldn't tolerate more.

Recently he was put in hospice care, and now he is in his last hours before he meets the Lord. In the 10 years we knew each other, we discovered we agreed about everything--politics, religion; heck he even came around to liking Fords better than Chevies. He was kind enough not to comment on the Japanese Hondas I kept bringing around to the hangar.

One of the achievements he was proudest of in his retirement was fabricating an F-1 Rocket, along with his buddy, retired Navy Phantom pilot and airline Pilot Dick. It was awarded Best of Show at a 2009 air show.

But clearly more important as an achievement was his helping (meaning mostly) raising the two older grandchildren, along with this wife Linda. We met them when they were young teenagers. Since then the granddaughter is nearing completion of an accounting degree, and the grandson, clearly his granddad's pride and joy, is now an aerospace engineer working for a major aerospace contractor. LeRoy was particularly proud that J was not just a CAD/CAM engineer, but that LeRoy had raised him right. LeRoy bought an old Cessna 172; got it fixed up; got him an excellent CFI, and J not only got his pilot's license, but learned how to do the maintenance on the 172.

I can't leave out that the achievement LeRoy leaves behind whom we see day to day, his younger son is a splendid husband, father, and son-in-law. As with the rest of the family, he is a solid Christian, a hard worker, and a source of pride to his Dad and the rest of our families.

This is a hard year for us. A couple of decades ago we saw our parents pass on; now it's our generation's turn. I lost my best friend from med school just after Thanksgiving; and my brother-in-law's wife now has a diagnosis of brain tumor with a poor prognosis. We are surrounded on all sides by losses of those dear to us. Yet our work is not yet done, not with two grand-daughters, a grandson and another grandson on the way.

My hope is to help our kids raise their kids with the same values with which they were brought up, to provide support, help, and encouragement in these difficult times for raising decent kids. So part of that will be, when the girls are old enough, to teach them why it's important that "our Grandpa built spaceships".

Prayers for LeRoy and his family. Reading your report listed many great accomplishments but the greatest in my eyes is being a Christian!

Very nice tribute sjtill. Your tribute was uplifting and did a wonderful job of letting us know about LeRoy. The world will be in worse shape without LeRoy but he left behind a legacy that will live on. Thanks for the post.

Great family legacy to share.

Thanks, guys.
Yes, his being a Christian, raising his kids and grandkids as Christians is definitely his greatest accomplishment.

Writing this out was very helpful to me. I had been waking up early very tearful about this impending loss. After I started writing about LeRoy I slept better.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
Very nice tribute sjtill. Your tribute was uplifting and did a wonderful job of letting us know about LeRoy.

Indeed.

Peace to you and LeRoy and your collective family.

Thank you for your post, sjtill. What a life LeRoy has lived. Thank God for men like him.

Yes, it was a blessing to know him. I was devastated when his cancer came back so aggressively and everything that could be done failed him.

I think you and LeRoy were fortunate to have each other.

Damn cancer.

God rest his soul. I have a favorite uncle that was a "rocket scientist" literally. He was at
the rocket purpulsion lab when the first F1 exploded on the test stand. He went on to design the guidence rockets on the shuttle.

I have know doubt he knew him because that was a very small and tight community that worked very closely together for a long time. I wish I could ask him your question but unfortunately he's in a dementia facility now.

But thank you for reminding me of some cool conversations with my uncle.

Tommy

Sounds like he was a pillar of a solid, commendable family. RIP, LeRoy and condolences on your loss.

quote:

"Our Grandpa built spaceships"

That'd be a great title for a Sci-Fi book, if it isn't already.

LeRoy has passed. He'll be buried at Miramar National Cemetery.

I believe the gentleman you are referring to worked at Straza, on Greenfield Dr in El Cajon, next to Magnolia Elementary and circa 2005, worked at DuPont Aerospace at Gillespie.

If this is the same, I recall him coming to the school in the Apollo days and working with him at DuPont (might not be the same LeRoy

May he rest quietly and in peace even if not the same gent.

Stan

Please extend my condolences to everyone in your extended family. He sounds like he was a wonderful person.

My 2024 was a horrible year with the loss of 5 close family members including one by suicide. I share your pain in losing so many family in a short period of time.

As for his legacy, I'm very familiar with people that can successfully weld some exotic metals, and its a skill held by not very many people. I have no doubt you will find out what metal it was and how it was used - be it plumbing related to an engine or structural and airframe related.

Thank you, Gregg.
I will get a chance to go to the hangar where he hung out with a bunch of guys, any one of whom could be a best buddy of anyone here. He spent the most time with the fellow with whom he built the F1 Rocket kit plane, but was close to many. He was always trying to get me to get a hangar there; it would have been great, but I had other things to do, it seemed.

sjtill- I am amazed at yet another outstanding life tribute on here. Your post is a beautiful memory of an extraordinary life well-lived. And your selflessness in assuring that LeRoy, the "other granddad", is always held high in your granddaughters' esteem says a lot about you, sir.

Thank you for sharing this, it means a lot.

.

TigerDore—That means a great deal to me. I wanted to post it where other folks I find congenial might think it meaningful.

Stan

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:

My hope is to help our kids raise their kids with the same values with which they were brought up, to provide support, help, and encouragement in these difficult times for raising decent kids. So part of that will be, when the girls are old enough, to teach them why it's important that "our Grandpa built spaceships".

This right here says a lot. Your grandkids are blessed to have had a grandpa like LeRoy, and equally blessed to have you. Praying for you and your family during this difficult time.

Stan,
Sorry I'm late here. Been sick and limited my time here.
Others have said it eloquently about your tribute. Well done my friend, well done.