LeRoy Toler, age 92, a lifelong resident of Irving, died Sunday, January 31, 2016 at his home. Born February 19, 1923 in Irving, the son of Emanuel M. and Mary Alma Toler, he was a 1940 graduate of Irving High School and a graduate of Dallas Aviation School. He married Clereta Abney on January 9, 1943. LeRoy was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of WWII. LeRoy was born at home near downtown Irving. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to their new home on the Toler Family Farm in the Elm community of Irving where he grew up. After marrying and serving in the Army Air Corps, he returned home to the Toler Farm, built a house, and raised his family. He lived there until his passing. During high school, he enjoyed playing baseball and playing steel guitar in a band with friends and cousins. They would play for local dances and later in clubs in Irving and Dallas. His love of baseball continued as he played on other teams in Dallas, church league, and later the Eagles, a senior slow-pitch team in Irving. He began his interest in aviation when he attended Dallas Aviation School and began working for North American building airplanes. He left his job to join the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Kansas City, KS and Stockton, CA where he worked on military aircraft. After the service, his aviation career continued. He worked 10 years at Braniff Airlines in Dallas, achieving the title of Lead Mechanic. He spent the next 24 years as a manager at Collins Radio/Rockwell International in Dallas, where his team modified aircraft for the military and foreign Heads of State. He also made modifications for Air Force One. He retired on March 29, 1984 after 43 years of continuous service in the aviation industry. LeRoy was a member of Kirkwood United Methodist Church in Irving since 1956. He was very active in his church, serving on many committees throughout the years. He was always available to help with repairs, yardwork, and the churchs annual performance of "The Tableau" at Easter. He was still ushering until just a few years ago. LeRoy truly loved the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joe Toler. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Clereta; son, Robert "Bob" Toler and wife Judy and daughter, Sharon Toler Hix and husband Doyle, all of Irving; 6 grandchildren, Robin Fenley and husband Brian, Brian Hix and wife Heather, Heather Cozart and husband Brad, Janet McMillen and husband Kevin, Lisa Simms and husband Logan, and Jennifer Neumann and husband Trent; 9 great-grandchildren, Jarrett and Addison Fenley, Reagan and Dale Hix, Elleson and Elin Cozart, Kendall and Leyton Simms, and Piper Neumann; and many nieces and nephews. LeRoy enjoyed spending time with his family and close friends, especially Lloyd and Myrtle Noblitt, with whom he shared a 72 year friendship after meeting in the service. LeRoys family was his life. He enjoyed taking family vacations with his children and grandchildren, spending weekends at the family tree farm in East Texas and lake house at Lake Texoma, and family time at home. He is loved by so many and will be greatly missed. He was a loving husband, the Best Dad, and a wonderful PawPaw to his grandkids and great-grandkids. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 2 at Donnellys Colonial Funeral Home, 606 West Airport Freeway in Irving. Service 2:00 p.m., Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial with military honors will follow at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 East Irving Blvd. in Irving. SERVICES Funeral Service

Wednesday, February 03, 2016 2:00 PM

Donnelly's Colonial 606 West Airport Freeway Irving, Texas 75062