Erwin J. LeBlanc, 102, died Sunday, August 28, 2005 at home in Tyler, Texas. A native and lifelong resident of Beaumont, he was born April 29, 1903 to the late Edmar J. and Nora J. Bordages LeBlanc. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary in LaPorte, Dallas Academy, and graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana in 1926. Mr. LeBlanc spent his entire career with the Beaumont Rice Mills from 1926 to retirement in 1968.
He was a founding member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and was a life member of Knights of Columbus Council 951. He was an avid saltwater fisherman, rice farmer, gardener, philanthropist and student of economics and he loved spending countless hours on his family land. He will always be remembered for his devotion to God and family, his wonderful sense of humor and remarkable memory. His unfailing optimism was a source of inspiration to all those blessed to have known him.
He was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Mabel Gray LeBlanc; son, Robert (Bobby) LeBlanc; sister, Nora Lee Quirk; and brother, Richard (Buster) P. LeBlanc.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby P. LeBlanc; sister, Mary Belle Tillery of Beaumont; son, Erwin J. LeBlanc, Jr. of San Clemente, California; daughters, Becky LeBlanc Simmons of Tyler, Susy LeBlanc Triantafillis of Thessaloniki, Greece; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, including Judge Richard P. LeBlanc and Gene Tillery both of Beaumont.
A Christian Vigil will be 7:30 P. M. Thursday, September 1, 2005 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 A. M. Friday, September 2, 2005 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery. Judge Richard LeBlanc, Gene Tillery, Hugh Flora, Larry Simmons, Mark Ackerman, Judge Ken Dollinger, and Larry Korry will be serving as pallbearers. Leo Loeffler will be serving as an honorary pallbearer.
