Robert J. Leimone

Robert Leimone of Magnolia, passed away at his home on July 1, 2020. The condolences of the Addison family and staff of Magnolia Funeral Home go out to Robert's family and friends. DUE TO THE MOST RECENT COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS THE BURIAL WILL BE PRIVATE Robert J. Leimone went home to be with the Lord on July 1, 2020. He was born to his parents, Juisto and Rose Leimone, on January 5, 1938 and raised on the family farm in Burgaw, NC. His parents’ families immigrated from Italy and Hungary and were some of the earliest settlers in the St. Helena community. Bob left his childhood home to work at the shipyard in Newport News, VA. There he met and married his first wife, Lois, in 1960, and they had 2 children. They moved to Jacksonville, FL where he worked at various nuclear power companies for several years. The family played on the beautiful beaches there and enjoyed the opening of Walt Disney World. In 1974, he took a job at Bechtel and the family moved to Maryland for several months before moving to Houston, TX, where he worked for Brown & Root, Inc. During the oil bust in the mid-eighties he was laid off and got work wherever he could to make ends meet. After the death of his first wife, Lois, Bob married Pam in 1986 and her two children joined the family. Eventually he found his niche at Jacobs Engineering as a piping design supervisor, retiring in 2006. Never one to be idle, he came out of retirement several times to work as a consultant for smaller companies on an as-needed basis. Bob and Pam made their permanent home in Magnolia in 2011. Bob had a work-ethic that was second-to-none. He was the best handy man around the house, redesigning things to make them better, spotting things that no one else would notice. He acted as the head contractor for 2 of the homes he and Pam occupied, tending to every detail until they were perfect. He was very meticulous, detail-minded and analytical, and always thinking. He was truly a self-made man. Bob stayed close to his family back home, making many trips to visit over the years and spending hours on the phone with his siblings. He was always there to help, offer suggestions, or listen when something was wrong. He supported his family through the dark valleys and celebrated the hilltop moments. He was the safety net for the family. Growing up, Bob was athletic, playing basketball, water skiing, and staying active. His large family held many gatherings where they danced the night away and shared good food and memories. He carried that tradition on with his family in Texas, hosting everyone at their place for holidays and games and fun. He celebrated the births of his 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, and attended as many birthday parties, gym meets, soccer games, recitals and graduations as he could. To say that he loved cars is an understatement. From his high school days and for as long as he was able, Bob was talking about, reading about, working on, racing or showing cars. His racing adventures took him to tracks in Hallett, Oklahoma, Sebring, Florida, Texas World Speedway and many more. He was a member of car clubs over the years, making many lasting friendships. He and Pam recently became part of a group of RV owners, travelling to lakes, casinos, and parks and even met his NC family for fun in Nashville a few years ago. He is preceded in death by his parents, Juisto and Rose Leimone, brother Louis Leimone, racing buddy Jim Plite, and grandson Andrew J. McCurdy. Bob is survived by his wife of 33 years, Pam Leimone, son Robert J. Leimone, Jr. and wife Susan, daughter Denise McCurdy and husband Tom McCurdy, stepson Jeff Roy and wife Kelly, and stepdaughter Robyn Ochoa and husband James, grandchildren Julie Leimone, Tiffany Kuhl and husband Robert, Danica Hunt and husband Chad, Matt McCurdy, Teresa Remmert and husband Jake, Michala McCurdy and fiancé Ryan Rankin, Megan Ochoa, Marissa Ochoa, Madison Ochoa, Halle Roy, Jackie McGinley, and great-grandchildren Kairi Cutchen, Kaden Kuhl, Ezekiel Remmert and Eden Remmert. He is also survived by his siblings in North Carolina, sister Julianne McCracken, sister-in-law Linda Leimone, brother David Leimone and wife Linda, and sister Rosemary Smith and husband Steve, and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. We will miss you Dad, but we will hold onto the vision that you are on that perfect, golden racetrack in Heaven, where the sun always shines, there is no passing and Fords always win. Maybe you and Louis can finally settle your life-long Ford vs Chevy dispute.