November 12 1933 – November 15 2019
Obituary for Leroy Francis Walker LeRoy Francis Walker, surrounded by family, passed on to his eternal resting place on Friday, November 15th while under the skillful and compassionate care of the Cleveland Clinic Hospice. LeRoy was born on November 12, 1933 in Saxonburg, PA as the third child of Charles Lester Walker and Ruth Agnes Walker. His father was employed by the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad and LeRoy always had an affinity for the railroad. In his thirties, LeRoy worked for the Bessemer for a time and said often that it was the favorite job of his career. Growing up in farm communities, LeRoy was no stranger to hard work and lending a helping hand to neighbors. This was a way of life that had a direct and distinct impact on him. His work ethic and willingness to help others were hallmarks recognized throughout his life by his family, colleagues and the community. Growing up, LeRoy was a “dual citizen” of the Butler/Saxonburg and Greenville communities as his father’s home base with the railroad changed frequently. He had many friends in each area and he had so many childhood stories that he shared frequently. Most of them included playing the simplest of games from marbles to rolling hoops and later on to working at Callahan’s chicken farm or setting duck and bowling pins at various lanes in Greenville. He prided himself in being a great hand picker of fruits and vegetables and he worked on local farms regularly. LeRoy’s life changed dramatically with the death of his father at the beginning of his junior year in high school. Working to help support the family became a primary focus and he was fortunate to have teachers and a high school principal who allowed him to sleep at school. From a morning paper route to working at the Butler Hot Dog Shop, LeRoy worked diligently to help support his Mother and siblings. He graduated from Butler High School in 1952 and was an honorary member of the same high school class in Greenville. LeRoy married Anna Dempster of Freeport in 1955 while he was living in Butler. At that time, he was working for Leedom and Worral, a wholesale grocery supply. In 1958, he moved with his young family to Greenville to manage the L and W location on Main Street near the river. Residing on East Avenue and later on Plum Street, LeRoy worked with L and W until their abrupt closing in the early 60’s. He then worked on the railroad, sold Electrolux vacuums and did whatever it took to support his family. In 1965, he was hired by Packard Electric in Warren, Ohio where he spent the next 30 plus years. LeRoy worked very hard all his life to provide for his family. LeRoy always liked cars and speed. From racing cars as a young man to driving a Corvette in his later years, he enjoyed driving and was a master of having one foot on the gas and one on the brake. He loved sports and the outdoors. He golfed, bowled, played softball and horseshoes and was good at all of them. He participated in many work and church sports leagues and thoroughly enjoyed these team experiences that he missed in his youth. One of his fondest memories was playing softball with his sons for the First Presbyterian Church and Sloan Supply. LeRoy was a lifelong and avid Steelers fan. He also followed college football and basketball very closely. He fondly recalled going to the Masters with his sons and Pastor Barry French and to the PGA Championship with his sons and his friend of many years, Terry Hamilton. Of special importance each summer was the Canada fishing trip with his family, the Lenkners and many friends. For over 50 years he planned and participated in what was to become a true family tradition. The church was a cornerstone in LeRoy’s life and he served as a Deacon and Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. On June 7, 2006, LeRoy married Elaine Pitonyak of Niles, OH. LeRoy and Elaine cooked, cleaned, landscaped, repaired, maintained and supported the Methodist church in Niles for over 25 years. He was a Deacon and Trustee at the church as well. LeRoy was proud to have served on the Greenville Area School Board. He was a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts and was the Scoutmaster of Troop 70 in Greenville. He helped lead the area’s Philmont Expedition in 1974 and his son, Norman, was part of that amazing trip. LeRoy never missed a performance, game or event in which his family was participating. As a cancer survivor, he had a special passion for the Relay for Life events and regularly participated in raising funds for cancer related organizations. LeRoy is survived by his wife, Elaine Walker; his brother, Rev. James Walker (Sandy); his previous wife, Anna Walker; his sons, Dean A. Walker; Norman Walker (Lynn) and their children, Katie Walker, Chris Walker (Jessica), Leslie Swanson (Todd), Claire, Amelia, August and Jennifer Fox (Ron); his son, Keith Walker (Ann) and their children, Matthew (Alicia), Sadie, Hazel, Joseph Walker (Taylor) and Steven Walker; and by his daughter, Leanna Mayberry (Mark) and their children, William, Cadence and Eric; his stepdaughters, Tracy Godoy and her children, Cheyenne, Kenneth and Vivian; and Shelley Myers (Jason) and their children, Noah, Caleb, Ryan and Samuel. Also, his brother- in- law who was more like a brother, Robert Lenkner (Donna). Uncle LeRoy will be missed by his numerous nephews and nieces and by many friends and neighbors. Preceding him in death, were his parents Charles and Ruth Walker; his brother Donald Walker (Marilyn); his sister, Loretta Lenkner; his daughter-in-law, Deborah Walker; and his grandchildren, Isabella Godoy, Savannah Jeanne Walker and Nathaniel Walker. Calling hours in Greenville, PA will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 313 Main Street. The informal gathering will be in the church parlor on Friday the 22nd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Calling hours in Niles, Ohio will be held on Saturday the 23rd at the First Methodist Church, 608 N. Crandon Ave. in the sanctuary from 10:30 a.m. until noon. A Memorial Service will commence at noon with a lunch at the church catered by the Buena Vista to follow the service. Floral arrangements are to be made through William J’s Emporium in Greenville, PA. Contributions in memory of LeRoy F. Walker are welcomed at either church. Please visit www.oakmeadowcremation.com to send condolences to the family. To send flowers to the family of Leroy Francis Walker, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. PRINT Leroy Francis Walker November 12, 1933 – November 15, 2019 Share this tribute Memorial Candles Lit for Leroy | SEE ALL Light a Candle Funeral Details Condolences & Tributes Photos, Videos & Stories Send Flowers Obituary for Leroy Francis Walker LeRoy Francis Walker, surrounded by family, passed on to his eternal resting place on Friday, November 15th while under the skillful and compassionate care of the Cleveland Clinic Hospice. LeRoy was born on November 12, 1933 in Saxonburg, PA as the third child of Charles Lester Walker and Ruth Agnes Walker. His father was employed by the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad and LeRoy always had an affinity for the railroad. In his thirties, LeRoy worked for the Bessemer for a time and said often that it was the favorite job of his career. Growing up in farm communities, LeRoy was no stranger to hard work and lending a helping hand to neighbors. This was a way of life that had a direct and distinct impact on him. His work ethic and willingness to help others were hallmarks recognized throughout his life by his family, colleagues and the community. Growing up, LeRoy was a “dual citizen” of the Butler/Saxonburg and Greenville communities as his father’s home base with the railroad changed frequently. He had many friends in each area and he had so many childhood stories that he shared frequently. Most of them included playing the simplest of games from marbles to rolling hoops and later on to working at Callahan’s chicken farm or setting duck and bowling pins at various lanes in Greenville. He prided himself in being a great hand picker of fruits and vegetables and he worked on local farms regularly. LeRoy’s life changed dramatically with the death of his father at the beginning of his junior year in high school. Working to help support the family became a primary focus and he was fortunate to have teachers and a high school principal who allowed him to sleep at school. From a morning paper route to working at the Butler Hot Dog Shop, LeRoy worked diligently to help support his Mother and siblings. He graduated from Butler High School in 1952 and was an honorary member of the same high school class in Greenville. LeRoy married Anna Dempster of Freeport in 1955 while he was living in Butler. At that time, he was working for Leedom and Worral, a wholesale grocery supply. In 1958, he moved with his young family to Greenville to manage the L and W location on Main Street near the river. Residing on East Avenue and later on Plum Street, LeRoy worked with L and W until their abrupt closing in the early 60’s. He then worked on the railroad, sold Electrolux vacuums and did whatever it took to support his family. In 1965, he was hired by Packard Electric in Warren, Ohio where he spent the next 30 plus years. LeRoy worked very hard all his life to provide for his family. LeRoy always liked cars and speed. From racing cars as a young man to driving a Corvette in his later years, he enjoyed driving and was a master of having one foot on the gas and one on the brake. He loved sports and the outdoors. He golfed, bowled, played softball and horseshoes and was good at all of them. He participated in many work and church sports leagues and thoroughly enjoyed these team experiences that he missed in his youth. One of his fondest memories was playing softball with his sons for the First Presbyterian Church and Sloan Supply. LeRoy was a lifelong and avid Steelers fan. He also followed college football and basketball very closely. He fondly recalled going to the Masters with his sons and Pastor Barry French and to the PGA Championship with his sons and his friend of many years, Terry Hamilton. Of special importance each summer was the Canada fishing trip with his family, the Lenkners and many friends. For over 50 years he planned and participated in what was to become a true family tradition. The church was a cornerstone in LeRoy’s life and he served as a Deacon and Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. On June 7, 2006, LeRoy married Elaine Pitonyak of Niles, OH. LeRoy and Elaine cooked, cleaned, landscaped, repaired, maintained and supported the Methodist church in Niles for over 25 years. He was a Deacon and Trustee at the church as well. LeRoy was proud to have served on the Greenville Area School Board. He was a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts and was the Scoutmaster of Troop 70 in Greenville. He helped lead the area’s Philmont Expedition in 1974 and his son, Norman, was part of that amazing trip. LeRoy never missed a performance, game or event in which his family was participating. As a cancer survivor, he had a special passion for the Relay for Life events and regularly participated in raising funds for cancer related organizations. LeRoy is survived by his wife, Elaine Walker; his brother, Rev. James Walker (Sandy); his previous wife, Anna Walker; his sons, Dean A. Walker; Norman Walker (Lynn) and their children, Katie Walker, Chris Walker (Jessica), Leslie Swanson (Todd), Claire, Amelia, August and Jennifer Fox (Ron); his son, Keith Walker (Ann) and their children, Matthew (Alicia), Sadie, Hazel, Joseph Walker (Taylor) and Steven Walker; and by his daughter, Leanna Mayberry (Mark) and their children, William, Cadence and Eric; his stepdaughters, Tracy Godoy and her children, Cheyenne, Kenneth and Vivian; and Shelley Myers (Jason) and their children, Noah, Caleb, Ryan and Samuel. Also, his brother- in- law who was more like a brother, Robert Lenkner (Donna). Uncle LeRoy will be missed by his numerous nephews and nieces and by many friends and neighbors. Preceding him in death, were his parents Charles and Ruth Walker; his brother Donald Walker (Marilyn); his sister, Loretta Lenkner; his daughter-in-law, Deborah Walker; and his grandchildren, Isabella Godoy, Savannah Jeanne Walker and Nathaniel Walker. Calling hours in Greenville, PA will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 313 Main Street. The informal gathering will be in the church parlor on Friday the 22nd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Calling hours in Niles, Ohio will be held on Saturday the 23rd at the First Methodist Church, 608 N. Crandon Ave. in the sanctuary from 10:30 a.m. until noon. A Memorial Service will commence at noon with a lunch at the church catered by the Buena Vista to follow the service. Floral arrangements are to be made through William J’s Emporium in Greenville, PA. Contributions in memory of LeRoy F. Walker are welcomed at either church. Please visit www.oakmeadowcremation.com to send condolences to the family. To send flowers to the family of Leroy Francis Walker, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. PRINT First Visitation When Friday, November 22nd, 2019 6:00pm – 8:00pm Location First Prsbyterian Church of Greenville Address 323 Main St Greenville, PA 16125 Text Directions Email Directions View Map Send Flowers for Leroy’s visitation Second Visitation When Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 10:30am – 12:00pm Location First United Methodist Church of Niles Address 608 N Chardon Ave. Niles, OH 44446 Text Directions Email Directions View Map Send Flowers for Leroy’s visitation Service Information When Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 12:00pm Location First United Methodist Church of Niles Address 608 N Chardon Ave. Niles, OH 44446 Text Directions Email Directions View Map Send Flowers for Leroy’s Service Reception Information Location First United Methodist Church of Niles Address 608 N Chardon Ave. Niles, OH 44446 Text Directions Email Directions View Map Reception Extra Info A Memorial Service will commence at noon with a lunch at the church catered by the Buena Vista to follow the service. 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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Leroy Francis Walker November 12 1933 – November 15 2019.
Oak Meadow Cremation Services Inc.
Death notice for the town of: Warren, state: Ohio