LeeRoy "Pete" Aldrich, 86, of Lufkin, was born June 28, 1920, in Turkey, Texas, the son of the late Dattabell (Hanna) and A. C. Aldrich. He passed away Saturday, June 23, 2007, in a local hospital.
Services for Mr. Aldrich will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2007, in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Luther Bolenbarker officiating. Interment will follow in the Huntington Cemetery.
Mr. Aldrich was a decorated military veteran of the United States Air Force, serving in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He served as a Tech Sgt. and Aircraft Engineer. He came to the Lufkin area to become a successful businessman, and was the owner of service stations and an ice business. In his retirement he served the community and contributed more that 500 hours as a volunteer with the VA. Anyone who knew Mr. Aldrich knew he had a passion for gardening, fishing and hunting. Mr. Aldrich was a devoted church member, husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Marie (Champion) Aldrich of Lufkin; son, Donald L. Aldrich of Lufkin; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Rhonda Aldrich of Camp LeJeune, NC; daughters and sons-in-law, Helen L. Aldrich and Chris Dewane of Dallas and Tina and Russell Rogers of Allen; grandchildren, Britney Sabrina Aldrich and Ryan Aldrich, both of Camp LeJeune, NC, John Aldrich Rogers, David Michael Rogers, Rachel Eden Rogers, all of Allen and Bryan Aldrich of Lufkin; and brother-in-law and his wife, Wayne and Anthalin Champion of Sherman