Leech

For Edward Thomas Leech, life had meaning to his last breath. With the disease Primary Progressive Aphasia, he faced his challenges and fate with courage. Even though he was unable to move his body or to communicate with words and memory, he would whistle and continue making those around him feel happy, as he had done throughout his 87 years. His lifetime of kindness to others gave him a happy heart. He never wanted to burden family and friends with the trauma of his disease. He died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

Funeral arrangements are Friday, Feb. 9, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Grange. Viewing, Music and Rosary at 9:30 a.m. with the Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m.

Ed’s jokes will be missed, but more than that—his love of life, his strong faith, and, his devotion to his family, his camaraderie with his friends and his service to the community. He lived his Dallas Jesuit High School motto,“Men for Others,” by teaching morality of loving relationships to high school classes, keeping his 1954 high school classmates together with fraternal bonding that exists today, joining and participating in Rotary for service to community from 1960 until this past year, volunteering for the International Executive Service Corps in Cairo, Egypt, and introducing the Third World Lost Boys of Sudan to the First World of Dallas. They called him “Baba.”

For work, Ed was an AT&T manager, a stock broker, a banker, and a captain in the Army Reserves. For sports, Ed was a young diver and gymnast, who walked on his hands into his 50’s. He was an avid fan of most athletics.

For special fun he was commissioner of a fantasy basketball team, avid collector of stamps and coins, enthusiastic golfer, Colorado hiker, supporter of live theater (especially his wife’s Czech family heritage story—“Heart of the Tin Trunk”) and traveler of all seven continents. He made time to be a CASA volunteer, an arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers, an early organizer of an entertainment series for the city of La Grange, as well as a Junior Achievement volunteer in public schools.

A devoted family man, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia Mika Leech of La Grange, Austin daughters Kelly McGill and Dana Wills and her partner Phillip Engle. Also, from Austin are grandchildren Austin Wills, wife Allie Nicholson, and great granddaughters Charley and Margot Wills, both with whom he had a special bonding; from New York, grandchildren Allison Wills and her partner Steve Lillegard, and Conner McGill;. and close friend, Susan Kim Shaffer of Austin.

He had numerous nieces important to him, especially Darlene Leech of Arlington and Beverly Leech of Los Angeles, Calif., and many special nephews, nieces and cousins, especially Carol Peters of Austin. His friends were important to him. Among them were his ’54 Jesuit classmates.

Preceding Ed in death are his parents, Paul and Katherine Leech, and two brothers, Paul and John Leech.

Ed’s family is especially grateful to Dr. Thomas Borgstedte, the Brazos Valley Hospice team: Amanda, Kelly, Virginia, Hope, Taneisha, and Keesha. They and home caregivers, Andrea, Laurie, LeAnn, Phyllis and Teresa, are responsible for Ed’s continued spirit and smile.

Pallbearers are Austin Wills, Allison Wills, and Conner McGill, grandchildren; Paul Leech Jr., representing the Paul Leech family; and John Leech, representing the John Leech family; Joe Holland, representing his Dallas neighborhood; Ed Benson, representing his college friends; and Larry Jackson, representing the La Grange community.

The family appreciates Fr. Brian Phillips, Mass celebrant, music soloist Debbie Matula, caregiver Phyllis Cernoch Chavarria and Michael Chovanec for leading the recitation of the Rosary that precedes the Funeral Mass. Michael represents the Holy Name Society of which Ed was a member at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Memorials may be made to The Leech Brothers Family Scholarship Fund, Jesuit College Preparatory School, 12345 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75244 (www.JesuitDallas. org).

Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals. com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange.