Brigadier General Retired Robert Joseph Leblanc

Abbeville—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 6, 2023 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Robert Joseph LeBlanc, 101, who passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at his residence, surrounded by his family. Reverend Chester Arceneaux will be the Celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Concelebrants will be Reverend Louis Richard, Reverend Manny Fernandez and Reverend Nicholas DuPre'. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Mausoleum with full military honors. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Robert J. Tinker, Jonathan Tinker, Brooks Thibodeaux, Ron Dore, Timothy Wright, and Adrian Vega. Honorary pallbearers will be his son-in-laws, John R. Ziegler and Joseph B. Tinker, and treasured friend and neighbor, Gerald LeBouef.

Our father lived a full and blessed life and we all witnessed it and were blessed by it...He always had a strong sense of values and priorities. His priorities were the Lord first, then family, then friends who were treated like family. He was our first example of how a husband should love and respect his wife. He was the perfect "girl dad" providing for us, treating "his girls with respect" and as he said, enjoying watching each of us grow up and create our own lives which he was always a part of....He was loved and fulfilled by every generation of his family that came into existence. He always said it is the "bee-bees" that make the world go round. His eyes kept a twinkle and reflected the love and joy in his heart. When it came to hardships, he lived by his faith thinking  "Thy will be done.”

He was an officer and a gentleman in his military career, but for his family he was our Hero. He will always be greatly missed, loved, and remembered. When it comes to fathers, we feel like we won the lottery!! Our hearts are thankful.

He is survived by his daughters, Dr. Denise L. Ziegler and her husband, John, and Donna L. Thibodeaux; son-in-law, Joseph B. Tinker (Retta); sister, Shirley L. Ditch; sister-in- law, Gertrude D. LeBlanc; grandchildren, Adrienne Tinker Wright (Tim), Robert Joseph Tinker (Kumiko), Kathryn Tinker Vega (Adrian), Jonathan Tinker (Christina), Courtney Thibodeaux Dore (Ron), Brooks B. Thibodeaux (Ashley), and Brittlyn C. Thibodeaux; great grandchildren, Maria Wright Halverson (Mike), Timothy Wright, Erin Wright Earl (Josh), Benjamin Wright, Raemi Omari Tinker, Taro Omari Tinker, Alexander Tinker, Anastasia Tinker, Andrew Tinker, Jace Dore, Elliana Dore, Jonah Dore, Amelie Grace Dore, Kennedi Thibodeaux, Kohynn Thibodeaux, and  Ridge Joseph Thibodeaux;  and great-great grandchildren, James Earl, Logan Halverson, Evelyn Halverson, and Eleanor Halverson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. LeBlanc, Sr. and Neda Comeaux LeBlanc; beloved wife of sixty three years Helen LaPlace LeBlanc; daughter, Bobbie Lane Tinker;  brother; Dr. Edward J. LeBlanc, Jr.; and brother-in-law, Retired Air Force Colonel O.P. Ditch. Also he was preceded in death by his in laws; Raymond and Ruby Billiau, George "Buster" and Eula LaPlace, Paul "Boo" and Laura LaPlace, Nathaniel "Nat" and Fee Miguez, Pervis "Pee Wee" Meaux, and nephews; Tommy LaPlace and Claude Roy LeBlanc.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, November  5, 2023 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 6:00 PM by the Men's Rosary Group of New Iberia, LA; Monday, November 6, 2023 from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM when the procession will depart for the church.

The family would like to thank all for their care and friendship that many provided for our father.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert Joseph LeBlanc’s memory to Vermilion Catholic High School, 425 Park Ave., Abbeville, LA 70510, The Acadian Museum of Erath, LA P.O. Box 53597 Lafayette, LA 70505 or Jackson Barracks | Louisiana National Guard Museum, 6400 Saint Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana 70117-1456 or charity of your choice.