William "Bill" B. Leonard, Jr., 78, of Wimberley, passed Sunday, July 12, 2020. Bill was born September 19, 1941 in Houston, TX. He was the only child of doting parents, Julia and W. Bryan Leonard, Sr.
Bill graduated from Charles H. Milby High School in 1959, and Southwestern University in 1963. At Southwestern, Bill was a member and president of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and it was there that he would meet his future wife, Dinah. Bill married Dinah shortly after graduation in 1963.
Before going to work for the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, Bill was a high school teacher and coach. Some of Bill's innate traits led him to his next career. He had a big personality, didn't like having a boss, never met a stranger, and had the ability to tell and spin a story like no other. In 1972, he became an independent insurance agent and opened Bill Leonard Insurance. In 1973, the father of two moved his young family to Dripping Springs where he began construction on his Lazy D Ranch.
Bill was very involved in the Dripping Springs community. He joined the Masonic Lodge and earned his Master Mason Degree on 7/29/1965. When he moved to Dripping Springs, he joined Rambo Lodge 426. Bill had 55 years of service and was the WM of Rambo Lodge from 1979 to 1980. Bill and his family were active members of the United Methodist Church. He was a passionate baseball coach and is remembered fondly for being tossed out of a "few" games. His insurance business thrived allowing him and Dinah to travel the world. He loved their adventures, but he was always eager to get back and hang out at Central Garage, his office, or the nearest restaurant to "shoot the BS" with his friends.
In 1996, Bill bought some land in New Mexico and began building Lazy D Ranch II. He fell in love with New Mexico and their view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Later, Bill and Dinah would settle in Wimberley and split time between New Mexico and Texas.
Bill was a proud husband, father, and grandfather. As his kids were growing up, he was front row at all of their events, an enthusiastic bragger about their accomplishments, and an unashamed exaggerator of their successes! Bill had a huge laugh, told the best stories and jokes, played a mean game of Gin Rummy, enjoyed a good pour of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, and gave amazing hugs. He was over the moon when he became a grandfather. Without hesitation, Bill embraced his step-grandkids as his own, and was the first person in the delivery room to hold his grandson - no one was going to stop him! Bill was loved by many, will be remembered fondly, and is already missed.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Dinah Leonard. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Pat and Carrie Leonard of Wimberley, TX; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Tom Armiger of Sugar Land, TX; and seven grandchildren, TJ Armiger, Kaitlyn Armiger, Ryan Armiger, Delaney Armiger, Grace Armiger, Maggie Leonard, and Julia Leonard.
Bill's ashes have been spread with Dinah's in their beloved New Mexico. Due to Covid concerns, a celebration of life will be held in the Dripping Springs area in the spring of 2021, the details will be shared at a later date. In Bill's memory, please consider making a donation to Alzheimer's Association or dementia research. Finally, the family would like to offer their heartfelt gratitude to Sodalis Memory Care at Buda and Blue Bonnet Hospice of Wimberley. The love and care he received in his final years, means more than can be expressed.
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