Leroy R. Esh Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Born: 8/30/1948 Died: 11/16/2011 Leroy R. Esh, age 63, of Newark, DE, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at Christiana Hospital. Born in Ronks, PA, on August 30, 1948, Mr. Esh was a son of the late Eli and Sadie King Esh. He proudly and honorably served his country in the US Army during the Vietnam War. In civilian life, he made his career with the Chrysler Corporation in Newark, where he retired as a senior fork truck operator. A tireless advocate for veterans throughout his life, Mr. Esh was a longtime, active member of J. Allison O’Daniel Post 475, VFW. As part of his dedicated service, he was honored to be a VFW state officer and a part of the post’s military honors detail providing meaningful funeral honors for his fellow veterans. He also volunteered extensively with the Community Living Center at the VA Hospital in Wilmington. A loving husband and father, Mr. Esh was devoted to children. He particularly looked forward to playing Santa Claus during the holiday season and was well known and loved for bringing holiday cheer to youngsters each year. He is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Beverly E. Ainey Esh; daughter, Angela Lougheed (John); son, Kris Ainey; brothers, John Esh (Crete), Harold Esh (Pauline), and Lloyd Esh (Arlene); sisters, Ruth Vega (Juan), Mary Jane Hamilton, and Sally Eby (Leonard); mother-in-law, Shirley Ainey; grandchildren, Tyler, Ryan, and Kyle; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved pet dog, Snowball. A funeral service will be held at 5 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, where visitation will begin at 3 pm. Interment will be held at a later date at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Esh may be made to J. Allison O’Daniel Post 475, 100 Veterans Drive, Newark, DE 19711. Mark donations “for the VFW National Home for Children.”