Obituary
Raymond W. Leill Jr.
March 2, 1927-July 2, 2020
World War II Veteran
Raymond “Bud” W. Leill, Jr., 93, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2020 at home in Ormond Beach, Florida. Bud was born March 2, 1927 in Lafayette, Indiana to the late Raymond W. Leill, Sr. and Mable Leill. Bud joined the Army at age 17, and his father Raymond Sr. joined the Army at the same time. Bud was proud to serve his country, operating a motor pool and transporting Generals around Germany after the war, and the experience of what happened there.
Bud was a Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1154 for 4 years. He was also a District Commander and a lifelong member of the American Legion Post 11. He was proud of his accomplishments while VFW commander. Bud has always been a people person, and he enjoyed hard work and doing for others.
Bud would go on to own and operate several Texaco gas stations in Lafayette, Indiana, with his last new Texaco station at the corner of 52nd & Salisbury Street in which he also worked with a Wrecker and Snow Plowing service for over 30 years. After selling the property, he left the cold winters and retired in Florida where he enjoyed playing Bocce and riding his bike well into his 90s. He would ride around every day on his golf cart. He loved traveling in his motor home, especially to his cottage on Lake Freeman where he was often found to be boating, fishing, or teaching the family how to ski. At his home in Florida, Bud was a huge Nascar fan and loved watching the Daytona 500.
Bud married Martha Jane Trapp in 1953, and they had just celebrated 67 years together before he passed. Bud is survived by his wife, Martha Leill and their daughter, Rhonda Cooper, and his grandchildren, who he and Martha helped to raise in their home, Raymond Buddy Crum, who was the light of Bud’s life, and Kimberly Lynn, who was his princess. He is also survived by 2 great-granddaughters, Addison and Kinnely Crum, 2 great-grandsons, Emery and Little Buddy, all of whom he loved very dearly. Additionally, Bud is survived by his sisters, Joan Jenkinson, Rosie Nuckols (Ed), and Marcia Raiser (Mike), his sister-in-law Judy Leill and his brother-in-law Larry Rudder, as well as many special nieces and nephews.
Bud was predeceased by his sister, Barbara Rudder and his brother, Richard Leill.
The family will have a Military Service and a private Graveside Service in West Lafayette, Indiana at a later date. Please be with the family in prayer.
Love,
Sus (Sissy) Leill Giesler
Dads VFW picture around 1989
Bud and His Beautiful Wife Martha Jane
Tj and Grandpa
Last Golf Cart ride with Grandpa