Donald C. Leroy

Age 86, of Fairfield passed away January 11, 2007 surrounded by his family at home. He was born Donald Wolfe, March 22, 1920 in Cincinnati, OH and was adopted by Clifford and Irene LeRoy, moving to Hamilton in 1923. On November 17, 1945 while home on leave from military service, he married Emma Janette Allen at the First Baptist Church of Hamilton in a double wedding ceremony with Emma's sister, Edna Allen and George Wehrley. Don and Emma celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in November of 2005, months prior to Emma's death at Easter, 2006.

Don graduated from Hamilton High School in 1938. Following service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII, Don studied for one year at Denver Bible College, returning to graduate from Miami University in 1951, adding a Master's Degree in Education in 1958. After teaching 6th grade at Harrison and Madison Elementary Schools in Hamilton, Don became a principal at Fairfield Central and North Elementary Schools, culminating in 13 years as principal at Fairfield West Elementary.

Following retirement in 1982, Don volunteered and served as the Ohio State coordinator for the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and AARP, as president of the Butler County Easter Seals, the Butler County Retired Teachers Association, and the Hamilton-Fairfield YMCA Travel Forum, and served on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army, the Fairfield YMCA, and the Fairfield Safety Council, and served as volunteer at Ft. Hamilton-Hughes Hospital in both the gift shop and the "lifeline" program.

Don also continued to be an educator, teaching new U.S. immigrants the English language as part of the YMCA "Each One Teach One" program.

Don and Emma loved to travel, visiting Europe 7 times, Central America, the Holy Land, northern Africa, and all 50 of the United States. Gifted as a photographer, Don shared his excitement of foreign places through his slide shows with students, churches, and many community groups.

On February 14, 1934, Don accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and became a devoted and faithful member of the First Baptist Church and the St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church for 73 years, serving in every capacity from Lay Minister to Sunday school teacher. Afflicted with polio and shuffled between foster homes as a child, spending 12 months of the war in a hospital bed, and then facing numerous medical conditions in later years, Don never once complained. He knew that his God and his faith would allow him to appreciate his wife and his life for every day he was given.

Don, having lost his loving wife and best friend 8 � months ago, is survived by children, Donald (Jo) LeRoy of Fairfield, M. Kathy (Larry) Weaver of Fairfield, and Robert S. (Susan) LeRoy of Lakeland, FL; grandchildren, Anna Daulton, Jonathan LeRoy, Christy LeRoy, Sarah Weaver, and Dylan Bateman of Fairfield, OH, Cari (Erik) Feder, Christopher LeRoy, Lindsey (Michael) Dreyer and Allison LeRoy of Lakeland, FL; and great-grandchildren, Zachary, Katie and Jacob Feder, Ashlyn Dreyer, John Daulton, Anthony LeRoy and Joseph LeRoy; thousands of former students; and countless friends.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at the Avance Funeral Home & Crematory, 4976 Winton Rd., Fairfield with Dr. Dennis Metzger and Rev. William C. Brantingham officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7:30 p.m., Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hamilton or Hospice of Cincinnati. The family will also accept condolences at www.avancefuneralhome.com

A long and happy life, well lived.

Visitation

5-7:30 p.m., Monday, January 15, 2007 @ Avance Funeral Home

Service

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2007 @ Avance Funeral Home