William James "Bill" LeBlanc

William James "Bill" LeBlanc of Port Arthur, Texas peacefully passed away at home on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the age of 84. He was born September 14, 1934 to Joseph Gus and Noelie Durio LeBlanc. Bill was a loving and devoted husband and father. He married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara Theresa Calais, from Cecilia, Louisiana on January 14, 1956. Together they raised two extraordinary sons, William Jude and David Michael LeBlanc. Bill was a graduate of Bishop Byrne High School and Lamar University where he earned his B.S. and Masters degree in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering. Bill was employed at Texaco for more than 20 years before working with Drainage District No. 7 in Port Arthur and ending his career as a contract engineer. On August 25, 1989 Bill married Jerry Nowlin Baldwin, his beloved wife of almost 30 years. Bill was a singularly kind and gentle, humble and dignified, loving and loyal man! His long life was committed to serving others, and he did so in many ways. He faithfully delivered Meals on Wheels and served as an eucharistic minister at St. Charles Catholic Church and also served communion to the homebound. He was involved in Sertoma, RCIA, and ACTS, was a counselor for the United Board of Missions and a member of the Board of Directors of CHRISTUS Southeast Speech Services. He enjoyed his coffee club at McDonalds and Mardi Gras festivities. Bill was a talented and prolific craftsman and artist. Those lucky enough to be on Bills nice list received a hand-crafted Santa ornament every Christmas, each one a cherished original. Bill is preceded in death by his son, David, and first wife, Barbara. He is survived by his loving wife, Jerry, son, Jude and wife Natasha Myshkin, and his cousins: Charlie and Cindy Calais with children, Aimee and Aline, Olivia and Ruben Bienvenu with children, Steve and Susan, and Robert Durio with children, Kevin and Rachel. Additional family include sister-in-law, Jackie Osterhoudt, nieces Jan Higginbotham, Karen Hise, Becky Benner, Beth Doster, and Bonnie Burden and their families. Bill was a proud honorary parent to Catherine Bigler and to Eduardo and Ariceli Figueroa and grandfather to Angelica, Crystal, and Lalito Figueroa. Visitation will be held at 5:00 PM followed by a Rosary at 6:00 PM on February 4 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 5 at 2:00 PM at St. Charles Catholic Church in Port Arthur. Pallbearers are Steven Bienvenu, Michael Burden, Caleb Conerly, Andrew Doster, Pat Evans, Lalito Figueroa, Jake Hise, and David Montodon. In lieu of flowers the family requests remembrances be expressed as contributions to the LeBlanc Family Endowed Scholarship at Lamar University, 4400 Martin Luther King Parkway, Beaumont, TX 77710.