Richard Leonberger

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Richard Brook Leonberger, Sr. , age 84, of Hewitt, TX passed away on April 13, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family and friends after a lengthy, but courageous battle with Parkinson’s. Services will be 11 am Friday, April 19, 2024, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., Waco, with Rev. Ron Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Seaton Cemetery, 12561 State Hwy 53, Temple, TX 76501.

Richard was born December 2, 1939 in Rockwood, PA to Theophilus Joseph Leonberger and Lydia May (Foley) Leonberger. He graduated from Rockwood High School in 1957. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. He did a short tour of duty in Germany, and then was reassigned to Ft. Hood, TX upon returning. He met his future wife (Dorothy Ann Hejl) in Temple, TX on Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve 1960. They dated and were married on October 20, 1962. Richard did two tours of duty in Vietnam. Richard and Dorothy were blessed with a son, Richard Leonberger, Jr. on Dec. 5, 1966. Richard continued to serve for a total of 20 years in the United States Army as a Military Policeman and then as a photographer.

After retiring from the Army, Richard worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Temple, TX. The family then moved to Hewitt, TX in 1977 where he continued to work at the main Waco Post Office on Hwy 6 as a Clerk until he retired in the early 2000’s.

Richard enjoyed spending time with his family on summer vacations in Pennsylvania and a short move for the family to Colorado Springs. He continued photography freelance and as a hobby for years. He was also very interested in model trains which he developed from his father and brother’s time working for the B&O Railroad in Pennsylvania. While a member of the Temple Model Train Club for number of years, he helped design and setup model train displays for educational and recreational purposes at the Baylor Mayborn Museum Complex in Waco, TX. He worked for a short number of years helping with network cabling in his son’s business PC Networking Services, LLC in Waco, TX.

Richard was an awesome husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend to many.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Mae in 1923 and Pauline Ellen Kritschgau 2014; four brothers, Theophilus William 1922, George McKean 1925, Robert Foley Leonberger, Sr. 1987, and Theodore J. Leonberger 2017; and a still born sibling in 1930.

Survivors are his loving wife of 61 and half years, Dorothy Ann (Hejl) Leonberger; his son, Richard B. Leonberger, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Tina M. Leonberger; grandchildren, Garry Leonberger, Drew Leonberger, Ian Leonberger, Aaron Leonberger, Christopher Reid, Katie Costner, and Brooke (Leonberger) Richardson and husband, Bryan Richardson; and great-grandson, Callahan Richardson.

Pallbearers will be Richard B. Leonberger, Jr., Garry Leonberger, Drew Leonberger, Ian Leonberger, Aaron Leonberger and Bryan Richardson.

The family extends special thanks to the healthcare workers of Home Instead Waco (Linda Dietz and Cindy Page). Also, the therapists of Halcyon Home Healthcare Waco (Adam Sims and Destiny Headrick), the nurses and staff of Halcyon Hospice, Waco.

If you prefer, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army of Waco.

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