He was preceded in death by his first wife Jean and his sisters, Lilly and Linda. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Jean, his twin sisters Tammy and Teresa, his son Bryan White and son's wife Wendy, his daughters Tiffany Mullins and Voneece Little, as well as 13 grandchildren, nieces Dina Lewark and Michelle Johanson.
Leroy grew up moving between Gainesville, GA and Hollywood, FL while his father worked as a groundskeeper and caretaker for Riverside Military Academy. During his teen years in Florida he worked on a cattle ranch wrangling cows. At 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Airborne. After basic training, due to his experience with Hamm radio, he was assigned to Germany to listen in on radio signals sent from Russia to East Berlin. After release from the Army, Leroy worked various utility construction and repair projects as a heavy machine operator, pipeline diver, and lastly as a lineman and installation foreman for the Dillard Smith Company.
In 2007 a burst aneurysm in his brain sent him to the hospital and rehabilitation for several months, ending his working life. The resulting stroke cost him use of his right arm and most of his ability to speak, but not his spirit to go on living as best he could. In spite of a broken hip, from a fall, in 2013 and a Cancer diagnosis in 2020, he never lost his zeal for life and love for his family.
His speech impediment never stopped him from starting conversations with everyone he met. Nobody was a stranger, and everybody was a potential best friend.
Leroy's strength of spirit and loving manner will be sorely missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
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