LeRoy Clyde Paine, age 79, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, formerly of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at his residence. He was born on June 22, 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Louis Clyde and Laura Jaunita (Fields) Paine.
LeRoy was a planner and engineer in the aviation industry for 40 plus years, working collectively for Trans World, America West, and Allegiant Airlines, retiring from TWA after 30 plus years with the company. In his free time, LeRoy was a writer, whereby he authored and published two books, “Commercial Aviation: An Insiders Story” and “The Voyager and the Stolen Crystal”. At the time of LeRoy’s passing, he was working on a third book tentatively titled, “We the People”.
In addition to being a writer, LeRoy was the most avid Kansas Jayhawk, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Chiefs fan. Relishing in both long time and recent success of his most beloved teams.
However, even as much as he loved his sports, LeRoy loved and adored his family most of all. LeRoy loved his three boys, Chris, Patrick, and James very much; he treasured coaching them and watching them play sports. In addition to that, he loved seeing their families grow in recent years. Finally, LeRoy loved his sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie Louise (Paine) and Donald Reed immensely. Bonnie and Don were not only family, but LeRoy’s most loyal and best friends, and they were perhaps the most comforting voices throughout his fight.
LeRoy is gone today, but will never be forgotten. Today for LeRoy, “it is what it is” and, he will always be deeply loved and missed.
Preceding him in death were his parents and two sisters, Barbara Young and Betty Jean Hestand.
Survivors include three sons, LeRoy Christopher (Diana) Paine of Olathe, Kansas, Patrick (Tamera) Paine of Lake Viking, Missouri, and James (Patricia Ham) Paine of Lawrenceville, Illinois; one sister, Bonnie Louise (Donald) Reed of Lenexa, Kansas; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Local visitation arrangements will be conducted on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 1:00 PM until2:00 PM CST at the Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, March 01, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial with committal service will be on Friday at 11:00 AM in Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Memorial donations may be made to Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospice.
Please visit www.emmonsmaceysteffey.com to view the tribute and to send condolences.