F. Leon “Le” Herron, Jr., age 101, of Marysville, died Friday, May 5, 2023 at Memorial Hospital in Marysville.
He was a longtime civic leader, philanthropist, author, and man of deep Christian faith. Le began his career with the O.M. Scott and Sons company in 1965 as Executive Vice President and from 1967 until his retirement in 1983, he served as CEO and President. In 1971, he was also appointed Chairman of the Board for the company.
Prior to his tenure at Scotts, he was CEO and General Manager from 1957 to 1965 for American Hardware Supply Co. in Pittsburgh. Following his service in the United States Army during World War II, Le worked for Franklin Hardware and Supply Co. in Philadelphia.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Le attended The Friends School. In 1939, he graduated from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia with top honors. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Pennsylvania in 1943, where he was president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was a member of ROTC.
Upon graduation from Penn, which was during World War II, he attended Officer Candidate School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia and graduated as a Second Lieutenant. During active duty, he became a Major in the Army Corps of Engineers. He served in New Guinea, IE Shima, and Okinawa until 1946 and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal. A highly decorated veteran, his military awards also included American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Bronze Service Star – New Guinea and Bronze Service Star –Ryukus. He participated on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2009.
Le served two terms on the Union County Mental Health Board, was a former trustee of the Union County Foundation, and a trustee of the former Scott Foundation, which broadly supported many causes countywide throughout its existence.
He was a longtime member of Marysville First United Methodist Church and the Central Ohio Emmaus Community. He and his late wife, Betty, were instrumental in the introduction of Young Life and Teen Challenge programs to the area.
Le was a volunteer for Mobile Meals at Memorial Hospital of Union County. During the winter months in Florida, he was a member of Boca Grande United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and Boca Grande Club.
He was known as a man of wisdom and integrity whose love for boats and the sea was only superseded by his love for his family.
During his retirement, he authored Making Your Company Human, a book about servant leadership. Since the writing of his book, the Le Herron Rising Leader Award was established to encourage Union County high school students to be leaders.
Above all, during his life, Le overcame many adversities, both personally and professionally. He always believed, however, that “problems are opportunities.”
He was born June 30, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late F. Leon and Mary Elisabeth Beechwood Herron, Sr. He was preceded in death on October 6, 2012 by his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Hess Herron, whom he married August 16, 1947 in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
Le married Barbara Timmons on September 14, 2019. They had been friends since 1965 when the Herron family moved to town and they were neighbors. Le’s late wife, Betty, and Barb’s late husband, Jerry, died seven weeks apart in 2012.
In addition to his wife, Barbara, Le is survived by his son, F. Leon “Tim” (Julie) Herron, III of Marysville and his daughter, Sandra “Sandy” (Denny) Burns of Marysville; three grandchildren, Caitlin (John) Koenig, Brooke (Dan) Fox, and Drew (Samantha) Sparks; seven great-grandchildren, Hunter and Skylar Clark, Isabella and Addison Sparks, and Oliver, Milo, Stella, and Alia Koenig; a great-great granddaughter, Maeleigh Clark; his step-children, Rick (Libbie) Timmons, Tori (Randy) Guyer, and Chris (Kelly) Timmons; his step-grandchildren, Zack (Jen) Timmons, Emily Timmons, Elizabeth Guyer, Jack Guyer, Caroline Timmons and Lucy Timmons; his step-great-grandchildren, Maddy and James Timmons; and many other loving relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at Underwood Funeral Home, 703 East Fifth Street, Marysville, Ohio.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Cornerstone Global Methodist Church, 207 South Court Street, Marysville, Ohio. Rev. Nathan Custer will officiate. Private interment will be held at Newhouse Cemetery in Delaware County.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Global Methodist Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com.