Leroy Bruce Price

Leroy Bruce Price took his final breath on this earth on September 29, 2024 in the comfort of his home with his beloved wife holding his hand.

Leroy was born on November 3, 1947 to Hazel Lee Price and Malcolm Price in Jacksonville, FL, but he was a lifelong resident of Kinston, North Carolina save for his time enlisted in the Army.

Leroy is survived by his beloved wife Deborah Benton Price of 54 years. He is also survived by his four children, James Price (Lauren), Shawn Price, Jenna Bishop (Joshua), and Dawson Price (Savannah); two special grandchildren, Alexander and Ryker; two brothers and a sister; and countless friends and extended family.

Leroy was the oldest of seven children. He was raised in the Simon Bright apartments. At the age of 12 years old he earned his first job as a bag boy. This highlights one of the best things Leroy offered those who knew him: his work ethic. As soon as Leroy was able, he enlisted in the United States Army to help support himself and his family back home. He was stationed in several different places including Germany, Korea and Vietnam.  He returned home on leave when he met Debbie. It’s easy to say that it was love at first sight.  He told her “you’re cuter than a speckled puppy”.  The two were smitten and shortly thereafter married. Leroy was deployed to Vietnam where he served as a transportation specialist. He was incredibly proud of his service to his country and wore his veteran status with pride. Once he returned to the states he was stationed in Alabama. While there he welcomed his first son, James. Shortly thereafter, he would be stationed in Georgia where they would welcome their second son, Shawn. Leroy would receive an honorable discharge after eight and a half years of service. Upon his return to North Carolina, he and Debbie purchased their home where they still reside.

Leroy was one of the most hard-working men to walk this earth. Words were not his strong suit, but you knew he loved you because of how he made you feel and the things he would do for you. Debbie could wake up one morning before work and mention that she wanted her bedroom painted a different color and before she would get home Leroy would have the job done. Hard-work was not something that scared him, and as long as his body was able if he wanted or needed it done, he would do it. Leroy was loud. Anyone who met him this was the thing they noticed first. He could talk to a brick wall if he needed to. He never met a stranger. Lord help you if he ran into you at Walmart because he was going to spend the next 30 minutes talking to you. However, with his chatty personality came a willingness to do anything for anyone. He would give them the shirt off his back if he thought they really needed it. He was selfless to anyone who needed him. Eventually, you grew to love the loudness and these last few years it is what his family has missed the most. Though he had strange ways of showing it, there was nothing that mattered more to Leroy than his family. He was not the cuddliest man, nor the man to deliver the sweetest words. In fact, his family still jokes about his many, many sayings. However, he would do anything he had to do to ensure his family was taken care of and safe. He adored his wife, Debbie. His four children were the proudest accomplishments of his life. While he was talking your ear off at Walmart, he was sure to mention each one of them and their accomplishments. In his retirement, he became a stay-at-home parent for his younger two children. This involved coaching Dawson’s football teams and driving Jenna to countless dance classes throughout the week. Jenna joked that beyond all reason he became the best dance dad to ever do it.

During the last few years as his health failed, his faithful wife and dutiful son, Shawn, were his primary caregivers along with special friend, Eleta Hawkins, who was Leroy’s day nurse. While his family will miss his large personality and strong-will, they are relieved that Amazing Grace exists, and the Lord took him into his arms and gave him a perfect body. Though the coming weeks and months will be difficult, they will have many memories to carry them through. And they will have the most important thing he gave to each of them: each other.

Funeral services will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2024 with visitation to follow at Howard-Carter Funeral Home.  Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 3, 2024. at Pinelawn Memorial Park.