Leon Eugene Bianche's Obituary
Leon Eugene Bianche was born in Harrisburg, Texas on June 20, 1924 to Lucille Peterson and Louis Fillipe Bianche. He was baptized at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Harrisburg Blvd. on October 19, 1924. He attended elementary school at Immaculate Conception, later Deady Jr. High and Milby High School. Leon enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp in the summer of 1941 at the tender age of seventeen and went to San Diego for basic training. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, he was shipped to New Zealand and was a cook. He was stationed on Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, and then Saipain, in the Marshall Islands, and was wounded there on July 7, 1944. He was then sent to various hospitals and eventually granted leave to return to Houston where he married Ola Faye Benefiel on November 25, 1944. In March of 1945 he received a medical discharge from the U.S. Marine Corp.
Leon’s marriage to Ola Faye lasted 48 years until her death In December, 1992. Together they raised six daughters. After beginning a career with the U. S. Postal Service, as a clerk he wrote the first contract for the Postal Union and became President of the Union. He later entered management in the Personnel Office, was manager at Park Place Station, and then became area manager in Houston, Texas. He developed a love of traveling, whether for business or pleasure with his colleagues, friends or family. Leon was a people person which led to his participation in many organizations including the Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW, American Legion, Disabled Veterans, NARFE, Airport Optimist, Boy’s Harbor, CHS, HASG, Towne Lake, and Second Baptist Church.
After the passing of Leon’s first wife, Faye, he enjoyed 23 years, 7 months of marriage to Mary Chapman Bianche. They married in April, 1994 and have been living in Cypress, Texas for 16 years and they enjoyed traveling.
Leon is survived by his wife, Mary Chapman Bianche, stepdaughters, Elizabeth Bourque (Joey), Cynthia Whitecotton, 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Surviving children by his wife Faye, are Leah Dominy (Marvin), Patricia Seeley (John), Barbara Adams (Ray), Betty Garner (Buddy), Kathleen Shippy (Steve), 22 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends. Leon was preceded in death by parents, Louis and Lucille Bianche, first wife, Ola Faye, his sisters, Genevieve Anders and Virginia Tipps, his brother Daniel Bianche, and his daughter, Susan Bianche Locke.
Services will be conducted by San Jacinto Funeral Home, 14659 East Freeway, Houston, Texas. Visitation is 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Wednesday, November 8, with funeral services Thursday, November 9, at 10:00 a.m. Full military burial will be at South Park Cemetery 1310 North Main Pearland, Texas. In lieu of flowers, family request donations be made to charity of your choice.
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