George A. (Lanny) Leon, Jr.

George A. (Lanny) Leon, Jr., age 74, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 24, 2017 after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends. He served proudly in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. George was employed as a fireman in the City of Wilmington, DE, and later owned and operated his own business, Leon’s Inc., Custom Interiors. George was a lifetime member of the Wilmington Manor Volunteer Fire Company where he held several offices, including two terms as Fire Chief. George and another member of Wilmington Manor Volunteer Fire Company were the very first recipients of the Delaware Volunteer Fireman’s Association Heroic Fireman of the Year award in 1968, and both were later inducted into the Delaware Volunteer Fireman’s Association Hall of Fame. He belonged to, and was a very active member of, the New Castle Rotary club for many years. George was a member of Joseph B. Stahl Memorial Post #30, American Legion, Unity Lodge #32, AF & AM of Newport, DE, Brandywine Valley Scottish Rite and Nur Temple, AAONMS. He was a member of the Legion of Honor Veterans Unit within Nur Temple (Nur Shrine) and served as Commander in 1984. He was also a member and past Director of Delaware Court #164, Royal Order of Jesters. George was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to so many. He was retired and enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing in a pool league, many different card games, traveling and pleasure cruises. He also loved dancing with his wife. He is survived by his loving wife Gloria Leon, sister Catharine Lloyd, brother William Leon, two daughters, Gwen Leon and Caryn Jochen (Ed), son Kenneth Buchanan (Kate), step-daughters Louise Hyatt (Dan) and Theresa Haas (David), step-sons Joseph Smith, Jr. and Jeffrey Smith (Shelli), grandchildren Crystle & Kayla Jochen, Emma, Will, & Charlie Buchanan, step-grandchildren Ryan & Sam Haas, Natalie, Lindsay & Daniel Hyatt, Emily, Julia & Jeffrey Smith, and Trish Catts. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Thomas Montgomery, father-in-law William Crystle, and sister-in-law Cindy Crystle. George took great pride in and loved his grandchildren and many nieces and nephews dearly. He was preceded in death by his former wife Kathryn Crystle Leon, his father George A. Leon, Sr., his mother Catharine Jane (Hemping) Leon, his sister Jacqueline Montgomery, and his step-grandson Bret Joseph Smith. George had a smile that would light up the room, a wonderful sense of humor, a devotion to family and friends, and he volunteered so much of his time over the years to help others in many different ways. He made the world a much better place, and his memory will be cherished always by so many. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Tuesday evening, August 29, 2017, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a Masonic service will begin at 7:30 pm. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday morning, August 30, 2017, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 406 Main St., Odessa, DE. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE. In lieu of flowers, contributions in George’s memory may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Development Office, 3551 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140 or to the American Cancer Society, 92 Read’s Way, Suite 205, New Castle, DE 19720.