Leonard Beecher LaForce, 86, of Roseville, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2016, in Detroit, Michigan.
Leonard was born in Gate City, Virginia, on September 3, 1929, to Samuel Jay Elbert LaForce and Pearl Gilbert LaForce as one of 11 children. He left school to join the US Navy where he served as a machinist mate from 1947 to 1950 until he was honorably discharged. He then moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked first for Budd Company and then Cadillac Motor Company where he was a shift maintenance supervisor for 30 years until he retired in 1981.
He was an avid Cleveland Indians baseball fan as well as a baseball fan in general. His children fondly recall his extensive collection of The Sporting News gathered over many years. He was an amateur genealogist and was able to reach out to and befriend a large, extended family through his hobby.
He was preceded in death by both parents, his brothers John, Howard Taft, Robert, and Holliday; sisters Mary Esther, Lois, and Gladys; and one grandson.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Juanita King LaForce. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 26, 2016. He is also survived by his children, Cynthia Ranucci (Costantino), John LaForce (Jeannette), Timothy LaForce (Christine), Phillip LaForce, Julie Seaman (Robert), Mark LaForce (Carolyn), and Claudia LaForce (Alan); his brothers Warren & Jimmy, sisters Mildred, Sylvia, Nelma, and Glenda Marlene; grandchildren Vincent, Elaina, Johnathan, Michael, Evan, Connor, Ryan, Alana, Ian, Emily, Sarah, Cameron, Samuel, Ethan, and George; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Leonard will be cremated in accordance with his wishes and his ashes placed between his parents. The family will host a memorial service in Gate City, Virginia in the spring of 2017.
Obit Courtesy Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc.
Funeral home left brother Warren out of obit so I've included him here.
Leonard was born in Gate City, Virginia, on September 3, 1929, to Samuel Jay Elbert LaForce and Pearl Gilbert LaForce as one of 11 children. He left school to join the US Navy where he served as a machinist mate from 1947 to 1950 until he was honorably discharged. He then moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked first for Budd Company and then Cadillac Motor Company where he was a shift maintenance supervisor for 30 years until he retired in 1981.
He was an avid Cleveland Indians baseball fan as well as a baseball fan in general. His children fondly recall his extensive collection of The Sporting News gathered over many years. He was an amateur genealogist and was able to reach out to and befriend a large, extended family through his hobby.
He was preceded in death by both parents, his brothers John, Howard Taft, Robert, and Holliday; sisters Mary Esther, Lois, and Gladys; and one grandson.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Juanita King LaForce. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 26, 2016. He is also survived by his children, Cynthia Ranucci (Costantino), John LaForce (Jeannette), Timothy LaForce (Christine), Phillip LaForce, Julie Seaman (Robert), Mark LaForce (Carolyn), and Claudia LaForce (Alan); his brothers Warren & Jimmy, sisters Mildred, Sylvia, Nelma, and Glenda Marlene; grandchildren Vincent, Elaina, Johnathan, Michael, Evan, Connor, Ryan, Alana, Ian, Emily, Sarah, Cameron, Samuel, Ethan, and George; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Leonard will be cremated in accordance with his wishes and his ashes placed between his parents. The family will host a memorial service in Gate City, Virginia in the spring of 2017.
Obit Courtesy Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc.
Funeral home left brother Warren out of obit so I've included him here.
Leonard Beecher LaForce, 86, of Roseville, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2016, in Detroit, Michigan.
Leonard was born in Gate City, Virginia, on September 3, 1929, to Samuel Jay Elbert LaForce and Pearl Gilbert LaForce as one of 11 children. He left school to join the US Navy where he served as a machinist mate from 1947 to 1950 until he was honorably discharged. He then moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked first for Budd Company and then Cadillac Motor Company where he was a shift maintenance supervisor for 30 years until he retired in 1981.
He was an avid Cleveland Indians baseball fan as well as a baseball fan in general. His children fondly recall his extensive collection of The Sporting News gathered over many years. He was an amateur genealogist and was able to reach out to and befriend a large, extended family through his hobby.
He was preceded in death by both parents, his brothers John, Howard Taft, Robert, and Holliday; sisters Mary Esther, Lois, and Gladys; and one grandson.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Juanita King LaForce. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 26, 2016. He is also survived by his children, Cynthia Ranucci (Costantino), John LaForce (Jeannette), Timothy LaForce (Christine), Phillip LaForce, Julie Seaman (Robert), Mark LaForce (Carolyn), and Claudia LaForce (Alan); his brothers Warren & Jimmy, sisters Mildred, Sylvia, Nelma, and Glenda Marlene; grandchildren Vincent, Elaina, Johnathan, Michael, Evan, Connor, Ryan, Alana, Ian, Emily, Sarah, Cameron, Samuel, Ethan, and George; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Leonard will be cremated in accordance with his wishes and his ashes placed between his parents. The family will host a memorial service in Gate City, Virginia in the spring of 2017.
Obit Courtesy Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc.
Funeral home left brother Warren out of obit so I've included him here.
Leonard was born in Gate City, Virginia, on September 3, 1929, to Samuel Jay Elbert LaForce and Pearl Gilbert LaForce as one of 11 children. He left school to join the US Navy where he served as a machinist mate from 1947 to 1950 until he was honorably discharged. He then moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked first for Budd Company and then Cadillac Motor Company where he was a shift maintenance supervisor for 30 years until he retired in 1981.
He was an avid Cleveland Indians baseball fan as well as a baseball fan in general. His children fondly recall his extensive collection of The Sporting News gathered over many years. He was an amateur genealogist and was able to reach out to and befriend a large, extended family through his hobby.
He was preceded in death by both parents, his brothers John, Howard Taft, Robert, and Holliday; sisters Mary Esther, Lois, and Gladys; and one grandson.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Juanita King LaForce. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 26, 2016. He is also survived by his children, Cynthia Ranucci (Costantino), John LaForce (Jeannette), Timothy LaForce (Christine), Phillip LaForce, Julie Seaman (Robert), Mark LaForce (Carolyn), and Claudia LaForce (Alan); his brothers Warren & Jimmy, sisters Mildred, Sylvia, Nelma, and Glenda Marlene; grandchildren Vincent, Elaina, Johnathan, Michael, Evan, Connor, Ryan, Alana, Ian, Emily, Sarah, Cameron, Samuel, Ethan, and George; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Leonard will be cremated in accordance with his wishes and his ashes placed between his parents. The family will host a memorial service in Gate City, Virginia in the spring of 2017.
Obit Courtesy Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc.
Funeral home left brother Warren out of obit so I've included him here.
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