Erath -- A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Edward E.J. Joseph LeBlanc, 85, will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Rev. Bill John Melancon officiating. Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Erath on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 beginning at 4:30PM until 9:00PM with a recitation of the rosary at 6:15PM. Visitation will resume on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 from 8:00AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. Mr. LeBlanc a native and resident of Erath died at 11:25AM on Monday, August 15, 2011 at a local hospital. Mr. LeBlanc was owner and operator of LeBlancs Boat Shop of Erath. Mr. LeBlanc served his country in the 85th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division of the U. S. Army from 1944 until 1945. Mr. LeBlanc served his tour of duty in Italy during the European Theater Campaign in the PO Valley and North Apennines Mountains region during World War II. Mr. LeBlanc was awarded a Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in action, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and bronze star attachment (Double), WWII Victory Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, Marksman Badge and Rifle Bar. In 2007 he was honored and inducted into both the Abbeville Cultural & Historical Alliance , and into the Order of Living Legends in the Acadian Museum of Erath. He was a member of the Derouen-Moss Post 279 of Erath. E. J.s favorite pastimes were fishing, and hunting. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Catherine LeBlanc and her husband Leewood LeBlanc of Abbeville; son, Carroll Bubba LeBlanc and his fiance Nancy Pere` of Erath; seven grandchildren, Keith LeBlanc, Keisha Broussard, Ashley Hauser, Kipp LeBlanc, Shaina LeBlanc, Heather LeBlanc, Niki LeBlanc, and Kevin LeBlanc; and great grandchildren, Brock Broussard, Alaina Hauser, Avery LeBlanc, Kimberly Bernard, Kristopher LeBlanc, and Ty Collette; and one great great grandson Lane Bernard; and one brother Wilmer LeBlanc, and daughter-in-law Pam LeBlanc. He is preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Champagne LeBlanc; parents, Claude and Adela Suire LeBlanc; son, Carl Joe LeBlanc; brother, Eldredge Neg LeBlanc; and sisters Doretha Mim Duhon, Thelma Balut Baudoin, and Lorena Soirez. Serving as pallbearers will be Carroll Bubba LeBlanc, Leewood LeBlanc, Keith LeBlanc, Kipp LeBlanc, Allen Hauser, and Carl Broussard. David Funeral Home of Erath, 209 E. Putnam St., (337) 937-0405 is in charge of the arrangements.
