He was a Husband, Dad, Father-in-law, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Coach, Lefty, Vietnam Vet, retired VA Social Worker, a Christian, and the very best friend!
My dad was the most loving, caring, proud, compassionate person and loved my mom, me, & my family more than words could ever articulate. He was over the moon proud and had tears of joy when our oldest Liam hit his first HR- a grand slam, when Colton was the star of the 3rd grade play and all of his athletic successes- he called him a legend, when Kate cheers and sings praise and when our Baby Austin was born last June with red hair. He called Austin his Angel that was sent down to bring him so much love and joy in his finals days on earth!
He has always had a love of sports & cars. How fitting he passed away on baseball opening day? He looked forward to watching the Buckeyes play football on Saturdays, March Madness and The World Series! He was so proud of his brand new Red 2022 Corvette Stingray!
He loved to golf, fish, going to the gym everyday to workout swim & play racketball, and he loved to play softball. He used to take me to his softball games as a little girl in his softball bag.
He also loved to cook, smoke cigars, go to The Octoberfest and actually any festival, drink a salty dog, he loved pie, stingers and a pony keg of warsteiner on the holidays. He loved conies from the K and the A&W root beer stand, He loved The Falcon Club, the VFW The American Legend & the horse races.
He was so proud of his bar Lefties and he loved to tell the story of how he decided to sell it when I was a toddler dancing on the bar top- he didn’t want me raised in a bar- he was the best dad I could ever imagine having and instilled the most import qualities in me, which I instill in my kids as a mom today!
On the flip side, I must l say he has always hated commercials and politics, just saying!
He was an amazing coach at Springboro! He coached for 19 years and maybe lost 3 games in his career. He touched many lives and we will all miss him!
Coral was in his color pallet and he loved his “church” hats, golf “church” shirts, and “church” Nikes
My dad loved to make up a song for everything and whistle all the time - he was making up songs and bringing a smiles to the nurses and all of us in hospice the morning he left- I used to say dad stop whistling but I would give anything to see him happily whistling in his red Corvette today!
I will be forever grateful that he was able to help teach our kids how to play Left-Right-Center, poker, how to swim, tie their shoes, play baseball and basketball, how to love and how to stand up for themselves! He loved nothing more than coming to their baseball tournaments, football, basketball, LAX, soccer, and cheer games, grandparents day and anything else involving our Liam, Colton, Kate and Austin! We will love him forever!
I will always remember our trip to LasVegas when he turned 70- it was the beginning of Covid and before he got sick with ALS- so grateful for that time and the memories we made!
On one of my last trips to OH, he made sure to tell me how proud he is of me, he thinks I am beautiful and how much he loves me and my family. He told me not to worry about him because he knows where he is going and he will always be looking down on us- We now have our very own, personal, angel!
I want to celebrate his life and not remember it as the hell he has been through this past year with the most horrific, cruel disease, ALS. He was taken too soon! He wants us all celebrate how lucky he was to have the most wonderful life when he was here and for his spirit to live on!
Leon is survived by his wife and best friend of 45 years, Sharon. Also his daughter and son-in-law Leigh and Matt Whitmer, his grandchildren Liam, Colton, Katherine and Austin. His sisters Barbara Rolfe, Betty (Paul Kaiser) Cole, brothers Harold Lacy and Fred (Linda) Lacy and his sister-in-law Carol Lacy. He is preceded in death by his parents Ray and Clarice (Lykins) Lacy and by his brother Gary Lacy.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Wednesday April 5, 2023. The Visitation will be from 1pm until the time of the Service at 3pm at the Southwest Church, 150 Remick Blvd., Springboro, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Homeless Veterans at the Dayton VA Hospital, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio. Leon will be laid to rest at the Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio at a later date.
Condolences can be sent to the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.
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