William Wolf LeRoy

William Wolf LeRoy passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026, after living courageously with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 71 years old.

Bill was born to William Lee LeRoy and Winifred ‘Winnie’ Jane (Wolf) LeRoy on November 12, 1954, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was a 1977 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where he was a member of the National Collegiate Champion Parachute Team.

During his Air Force career, Bill piloted both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. His skill and bravery were exemplified by a helicopter rescue involving three stranded hikers. Beleaguered by altitude, descending clouds, snow, and darkness, Bill twice hovered the aircraft only a few feet from a rocky mountain slope while pararescuemen were lowered and retrieved the injured hiker and two hypothermic companions. For these lifesaving actions, Bill was awarded the Air Force Air Medal, the Air Rescue Association Kight Award for rescue of the year, and the Daedalian Alaskan Search and Rescue Trophy.

After his retirement from the Air Force, Bill worked for US Airways, where he participated in the development of electronic flight publications for paperless airline cockpits. Later, Bill worked as a project manager helping write technical manuals for military rotary wing aircraft.

Bill was a man of many interests and talents, including cooking, playing the Native American flute, writing and singing Western songs, playing guitar and banjo, writing poetry, fly fishing, backpacking, trail running, and exploring the Southwest. He memorized the complete collection of Robert Service’s poetry compilation entitled “Tales of the Yukon”; Bill’s spirited recitations in a Scottish burr entertained campfires across the United States.

Bill built a wooden lake kayak to facilitate access to remote fly fishing waters. He was a member of the Blue Steel Anglers, and his cooking and campfire skills were much appreciated by his brother members.

Bill and his rescue dog Maya volunteered as a certified therapy dog team, visiting hospital patients and staff. Bill’s easy warmth and good humor won him friends everywhere he went.

Bill and Doris met in 2010. They enjoyed many outdoor adventures in Colorado and New Mexico, before moving to Florida, and then to Hickory, North Carolina.

Bill is survived by his wife Doris and their sweet dog, Maya; by his son William T. LeRoy (Jessica) and his granddaughters Anna and Sarah, all of Newport News, VA; by his sister Sara Helen LeRoy-Toren (Richard) of Lincoln, NE; and his nieces Erica Toren (Matt Sayer) and Willa Toren-Senn (Jeremy), and their children. Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.caringcremations.net. The LeRoy family has entrusted arrangements to Caring Cremations Life Celebrations and Funerals at 828-855-3350.