Leroy J. Delionbach

AIKEN, SC – LEROY JOHN DELIONBACH, 77, beloved husband of Ferris Anne Hickman Delionbach, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

     Born in Fayetteville, NC, Leroy was a son of the late Monroe Vance and Alice Florence Hall Delionbach.

     Leroy once wrote, “there are old dawgs whose ears need scratching, kittens whose chins need rubbing, children who need hugs, elderly who need food, sick who need healing, unchurched who need Jesus. These opportunities are here, if we make use of them. Be a positive in fluence in someone’s life.” I believe his life clearly reflects these values.

     As a young man, Leroy (Dad) joined the Boy Scouts, obtained Eagle Scout and served for several years as a summer camp counselor. During this period he was also very involved in the youth program at Americus First United Methodist Church.

     He graduated from Americus High School in Americus, GA and earned his associate degree from Georgia Southwestern College. He then moved to Statesboro and graduated from Georgia Southern with a BA in Psychology with a minor in English. Leroy served as a minister in the United Methodist Church prior to joining the U.S. Army in 1967. He served his country for 2 years as a second lieutenant before joining the National Guard. Education was important to Leroy. His father had a 3rd grade education and joined the military at the age of 17. His mother had an associate degree in education and she always made sure Leroy knew the value of a good education. After active duty, he moved back to Americus, GA and became the first Director of Public Relations for Georgia Southwestern College. He later used his GI Bill to complete his MA in Psychology from Georgia Southern (GO EAGLES!) and complete two years post-graduate at UNC-Greensboro.

     He worked as the Division Personnel Director with Riegel Textile in Aiken, then accepted the position of Assistant Director of Personnel at the Medical College of Georgia. Five years later, he moved to Aiken Technical College as the Personnel Director. This is where Leroy found his true passion, teaching. His teaching career at ATC began with becoming the first Department Head for the Psychology department. He also started the Human Services degree and several years later he began the Criminal Justice degree program and remained in that position for the next twelve years. Many officers employed in Aiken County sat in “Dbach’s or Mr D’s“ classroom. Students usually fell into two categories- those who loved him or those who did not. Leroy loved to teach and if you were in his classroom, you were there to learn. He had no patience with “slackers” or those just wanting a grade. During his time at ATC Leroy established the chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the internationally recognized scholastic honor society for two-year colleges and served as the academic advisor until his retirement. He also established three scholarships: The James Greer Leadership Scholarship for leaders in Phi Theta Kappa, The John Bryan Criminal Justice Scholarship, and The Hilda Delionbach Nursing Scholarship in memory of his first wife, Hilda. She passed in 2001 with ovarian cancer. Leroy retired from Aiken Technical College in 2009.

     Leroy had a passion for law enforcement and became a South Carolina State Constable in 1982. He volunteered his time for 38 years, working at times with the City of Aiken, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County, Pelion Court system and the Burnettown Police Department before retiring in 2013. During his years in law enforcement, Leroy was trained in Hostage Negotiations and Crisis Negotiations, Criminal Investigations and countless hours of weapons training, coroner’s training, etc. He was an expert marksman and was a certified Range Safety Officer and Instructor. His love of handguns led to many years of enjoyment with SASS-Single Action Shooter’s Society where he was known as “The Constable” and could usually be found wearing regalia similar to that of a character from an old John Wayne movie.   

     Leroy was a former member of St. John’s United Methodist Church where he served for almost 30 years as a Sunday School teacher and member of various committees. He was also a former member of St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry, was a Lay Reader and Eucharistic Minister. He was a current member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church where he served on the search committee, the mission committee, as a Lay Reader and a Sub Deacon.

     Leroy was initiated in 1965 to the Blue Lodge and served in many capacities during his 50+ years of membership. He rose to Worshipful Master in 1984 in Aiken Lodge #156. He held offices in the York Rite and the Scottish Rite, highlights include, High Priest of Kadoshlayah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons 1982, Master of Aiken Council, Royal and Select Masters 1983 and Commander of Aiken Commandery, Knight Templar 1984. He was awarded the designation of Knight of the York Cross of Honour in 1985. This is an honorary degree, the highest in Freemasonry, conferred only on those who have held the highest office in each of the four bodies of the rite. He served as R.E. Grand Commander, 1992-1993 of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of South Carolina. He was a life member of the Royal Order of Scotland.

     He was an active member of the St. Andrews Society of Aiken. He was quite fond of the Robert Burns Celebration Dinner and enjoyed delivering the Toast to the Military or the History of the Empty Plate.

     Leroy was proud to be a Vietnam Veteran. He was extremely proud of the service of his father, Monroe Vance Delionbach. His father joined the military at the age of 17 and went onto serve in WWI, WWII, and Korea. Leroy was an active member of American Legion Post 153.

     In May 2011, Leroy was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He underwent a Stem Cell Transplant in November of the same year and enjoyed a life cancer-free since that time. As a result of his own walk as a patient, Leroy began working with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s First Connection Program. He was also very active with the Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center and various support groups.

     Retirement did not sit well with Leroy and in the Fall of 2014, Leroy became a Watch D.O.G. at Aiken Elementary. This program places volunteers (usually fathers and grandfathers) into the schools to provide positive role models for children. This was most rewarding for a retired educator with time on his hands. I’m not sure who had more fun, Dad or the kids. He was Mr. D to all the kids and staff and always ready for a hug or high-five.

     Leroy was an avid reader (routinely reading 4-5 books at a time). He enjoyed Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, Robert Heinlein to name a few. While going through files in his office, a letter from the wife of Robert Heinlein was found in response to Leroy’s correspondence and suggestions for an upcoming novel. A small bookstore could be opened with the novels, text books and religious studies texts in his office. Oh, and the trains, and books about trains cannot be forgotten. Leroy had a couple of very special friends who shared in his love of trains, Bill Tilt, Stan Schrader and Fr. Leslie. It was not uncommon to see these fellows riding down Hwy. 421 during their lunch hour checking out the trains and looking for new markings and such. Other frequent haunts were the train yards in Augusta, Columbia, even North Carolina. If a train could be found, they might be there. Leroy’s mid-life crisis revealed itself with the purchase of a Laguna Blue Miata convertible. His first wife, Hilda, almost divorced him over this car. However, day trips to the mountains with the Miata Club proved to be some of the best days of his life. He loved to find a good curvy road and let “The Little Blue Car” do her thing. He drove the Miata until neuropathy from his chemotherapy treatments made the clutch work too tricky.

     Survivors in addition to his wife Ferris include his daughter, Angela Ryan (Randy), Aiken; sons, Robert “Trey” Gunnels (Brandy), Aiken, Thomas Cameron Gunnels (Jennifer),Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Asheton Ryan (Victoria), Weston Ryan (Callie), Kristen Ryan, Fallon Ann Ryan, Dylan Gunnels, Austin Gunnels, Colt Gunnels, Skylar Savoy, Grayson Gunnels, Summer Widener, Marshal Gunnels, Savannah Gunnels, Haley Gunnels, Taylor Gunnels, Taylor Stoneburner, Leyna Stoneburner, Kate Sherman, Pierce Sherman, a great-granddaughter, Natalie Widener, and lifelong friend, Blimp Davis. In addition to his parents, Leroy was preceded in death by his first wife of 37 years, Hilda Ann Delionbach, and a son, William Charles Delionbach.

     The family will receive friends Monday evening, September 14​th ​from 6 until 8 o’clock at Shellhouse – Rivers Funeral Home.

     The funeral service will be Tuesday afternoon, September 15​th ​at 3 o’clock ​outside​ at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church with The Revs. Dan Wagner, Grant Wiseman and Joseph Whitehurst officiating. Interment will follow in St. Thaddeus Episcopal Churchyard with Masonic Rites and Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 1630 Silver Bluff Rd., Aiken, SC 29803.

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC