Paul E. "Eddie" LeBlanc

Waltham – Mr. Paul E. "Eddie" LeBlanc, of Waltham, died Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 85.

Eddie was born in Waltham on December 27, 1931, a son of the late Joseph and Lucie (Aucoin) LeBlanc, and had been a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of Waltham Vocational High School.

During the Korean War he served as an engineman aboard the USS Harveson, a World War II era Edsall-class destroyer escort that had been converted to a radar picket ship supporting aircraft carriers and assigned sub-hunting duties.

After he got out of the service Eddie began a forty-five year career as a machinist for the Raytheon Company and was well known in the neighborhood and at work for frequently traveling to work and home by bicycle, long before it became fashionable.

In May, 1954 he married his sweetheart, Waltham native Lorraine M. Tolan, in Saint Mary's Church and the couple moved to the newly formed Saint Jude Parish where they raised their family. Eddie and Lorraine were long active at Saint Jude's, always willing to help at church and at the school. Eddie was a longtime member of the parish Holy Name Society and had been a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 147 in Waltham.

He was also a member and past commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 45, and had been a member and vice-commander of the Allied Veterans Council, and a member of the Joseph F. Hill American Legion Post No. 156 , all in Waltham.

Eddie also belonged to the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No. 1018, in Waltham. He and his family were lifelong campers and attended yearly events across New England. He was an active member of the North American Family Campers Association.

In addition to his wife of almost sixty-four years, Lorraine, he leaves his children, Paul J. LeBlanc of Greenville, South Carolina and Mark E. LeBlanc and his wife, Karen, of Watertown; his grandchildren, Denis and Lauren LeBlanc and Jared and Joshua Faherty and several nieces and nephews.

Eddie was also the father of the late Joseph Paul LeBlanc, Lawrence J. LeBlanc and Marie T. Faherty and a brother of the late Hubert, Lionel and Roger LeBlanc, Theresa Groth and Dora Gross.

Family and friends will honor and remember Eddie's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home. 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, February 16th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.