Leroy Leon Wobus

Leroy Leon Wobus was born December 10, 1934, to Charlie Wobus and Mildred (Berger) Wobus near Giddings, Texas, in Lee County. He was baptized January 6, 1935, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings and confirmed April 2, 1950, at St. John Lutheran Church in Paige by Rev. Benedict Reck. His confirmation verse was Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”.

Leroy and Geraldine “Jerry” Haverland were married on August 23, 1954, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in San Antonio by Rev. Vernon A. Mohr. They made their home on a farm outside of Paige until 1992, when they sold the farm and moved to Elgin. They were blessed with three children. Leroy and Jerry were married almost sixty-one years before her death on June 10, 2015.

Leroy served in the Army Reserve from 1953 to 1962.

Leroy worked for Elgin Butler Brick Company until he went to work for the Texas Highway Department, now known as TxDOT, in June of 1963. He was employed there for 33 years and 3 months until his retirement in August 1995. Leroy could never sit still. He was always working. After he finished his day job, he would do mechanical work on vehicles at Luke’s Garage in Paige as well as custom hay baling with a friend until he and Jerry moved to Elgin. In Elgin, he then did small engine repair at his home.

Leroy was one of the founding volunteers of the Paige Volunteer Fire Department in September 1982, serving for several years as Fire Chief before moving to Elgin. After moving to Elgin in 1992, he continued his volunteer service and joined the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department, where he served for over 20 years, becoming the oldest active volunteer fireman. In 2007, he was named Firefighter of the Year at the age of 73.

Leroy passed away on May 3, 2025, at Harmony Care in Giddings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Herbert “Fritzi” Wobus, and his brother-in-law, Earl Eckenrode.

Leroy is survived by his children, Patricia and husband Glen Orts of Paige, Glenn (Skip) and wife Carol Wobus of Smithville, Mark and wife Shelly Wobus of Bastrop; grandchildren Shauna (Orts) and her husband Billy LaFrance of Austin, Jeffrey Orts and his wife Carla of Spicewood, Jason Orts of Austin, Larissa (Wobus) and her husband Aaron Prince of Georgetown, Matthew Wobus and his wife Holly of Buda, Megan (Wobus) and her husband Neil Watkins of Bastrop, Luke Wobus and his wife Jenifer of Bastrop, John Michael Groot II and his fiancé Jessica Tucker and her two children, Meredith and Lyle Tucker of Red Rock, Kelly Edwards and her husband C.J. of Red Rock, Ashlynn Wobus and her fiancé’ Liam McGuire, and Dustin Wobus and his wife Carissa of Bastrop; great grandchildren Kaley, Travis, and Nathan LaFrance of Austin, Riley Orts of Spicewood and Ava Glass of New York, Rya, Evyn, and Boone Wobus of Buda, Cora Prince of Georgetown, Kinsley Watkins of Bastrop, Emma and Ember Wobus of Bastrop, Hallie Wobus of Bastrop, and Hagen Edwards of Red Rock. One great, great grandchild, Nova LaFrance of Austin. He is also survived by his two sisters, Annie Mae and her husband Frank Weyant of Seadrift, and Barbara Eckinrode of China Springs, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Leroy Leon Wobus will Lie in State at Elgin Funeral Home, Thursday, May 8th, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 pm with a visitation following, 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Funeral services will commence at St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Elgin, Friday, May 9th, at 10:00 AM with Pastor Sam Brannon presiding. Interment will follow at the Elgin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Memorial Contributions be made to Leroy Leon Wobus' Memory to:

• State Firefighters and Fire Marshals Association of Texas
• PO Box 1709
• Manchaca, TX 78652
• 
  
• Texas Firewalkers
• PO Box 791
• Cedar Creek, TX 78612