Leroy Gafford

Leroy Gafford, 94, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2018.
Funeral: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at North Pointe Baptist Church. Burial: DFW National Cemetery 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Visitation: 3-5 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Lucas Funeral Hurst.
Leroy was born Dec. 25, 1923, in Elam, Texas to Leonard Gafford and Maybelle Davis Gafford. Leroy was the youngest of four boys who lost their mother and father six days apart in the 1925 flu epidemic. The boys were placed in Buckner Orphans Home by a loving uncle. Leroy was 15 months old and stayed at the orphanage until he graduated high school in 1940.
Leroy joined the Army Air Corp and was assigned to the same squadron as his oldest brother. He was sent to India were he built airfields, repaired aircraft instruments, etc. for two and one-half years.
He graduated from the University of Texas in 1950 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree.
Leroy was recalled into the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and sent to Munich, Germany for 38 months. After returning home, he worked for Nalco Chemical Company for 17 years and later joined Universal Oil Products (Honeywell Corp.) for 9 years. He started his own company GAFCO and after 10 years retired. During this time Leroy stayed in the Army Reserves making the rank of Colonel.
Leroy had many other accomplishments which included becoming a 32nd degree Mason, and a Deacon at Hurst Baptist Church.
Leroy loved playing golf and watching other sports.
Leroy is survived by his son, Larry Gafford; daughters, Becky Journey and husband Charles, Sandra Vecchio and husband Joe and Nancy Gafford; grandchildren, Allison Journey, Tommy Pickett and Kristin Pickett; great-grandson, Cecil Rodriguez; and many other loving family members and friends.