Rev, William H. Leroy

December 17, 1927 - June 12, 2020

William H. Leroy, 92, of Marlbourgh, MA passed away on Friday morning, June 12, 2020. He leaves behind his 3 sons: Steven Leroy and his wife Elaine of Ashland, WI; David Leroy and his wife Nancy Jean of West Boyleston, MA and Daniel Leroy of Shrewsbury, MA. He was predeceased by his parents Paul and Sylvia (Wafflard) Leroy and brothers Douglas and Milliard Leroy. As well as his wife of 63 years Inez Leroy. William more commonly known as Bill was born on December 17, 1927 in Highland, IL. Raised on an idyllic farm where the childhood house and barn and other buildings still stand today was where he came to grow in faith in a little country church and would later decide to join the ministry after graduating from William Jewell College and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. After college, and on a trip with one of the first youth groups he worked with to Green Lake Wisconsin conference center is where he met his future wife by helping her out of a locked building. This chance encounter turned into a wedding in 1955 and from there off to California where he worked as a youth pastor then became a civilian chaplain for the U.S. Army while starting a family and also having foster children. From there off to Lapeer, MI to work as a Camp Director at Detroit Baptist camp and have one more son to finish off the family. Eventually the country's Bicentennial in 1976 signaled a change and moved to Pueblo, Colorado to work at First Baptist Church. As the last of his children left to go to college, Bill decided to change directions and worked with adults with developmental disabilities at in Groton, MA for a few years before finally deciding to retire to Arizona. Retirement was a mix of being a minister at large for churches that needed a temporary pastor in Illinois and Maine. Slowing down he worked as a chaplain part time at the Tucson VA hospital before finally finishing working. A few years later Inez found out she had cancer, and they moved out to Massachusetts. Bill loved joking with others and reading and keeping up with current events as well as playing board and card games. Private burial will be in Gullick Cemetery In Lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Bill Leroy's memory to : Friends of Burma 548 Home Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46807