Cedric "Pop Pop" E. FauntLeRoy

Cedric Errol FauntLeRoy Jr. was born on May 2, 1921, to Cedric and Ella FauntLeRoy in San Luis Obispo, California and passed away sadly yet peacefully on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California.

Cedric grew up in San Luis Obispo, graduated from San Luis Obispo High School and began to continue his education at Cuesta College but felt a need to serve his country. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was part of the 19th Bomber Group in Alaska before the start of World War II. The outbreak of fighting found him stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he participated in what history now calls "The Forgotten War". He was then sent to Texas for special training before spending the rest of the conflict stationed in Guam.

After his time with the Air Corps, Ced worked a dedicated 35 years for Union Oil primarily out of Avenal, Ca. where his fellow workers considered him to be dependable and loyal throughout those years.

His first true love was his wife, Nina Mae Chaffin, lovingly known as 'Babe'. He met her at the most unlikely location of Blackwell's Corner at the crossings of Ca. Hwys #41 and #33. From that point on his dedication and loyalty was undisputedly given to his soul mate for 65 wonderful years. Ced and Nina were married at 17 Mile Drive in Carmel, Ca. and spent their honeymoon in San Francisco, and now we know why this family likes the Giants. They started their married lives in San Luis Obispo but spent the majority of those years in Avenal, Ca. before moving to Fresno, Ca. in 2006.

Blessed in those blissful 65 years appeared Craig in 1950, Jan in 1953, and Lyn in 1959. In those family years Ced shared his love for planes and trains. The FauntLeRoy family spent many memorable years attending air shows on the 120+ degree pavement at air strips such as Castle Air Force Base and Lemoore Naval Air Station where they saw the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. In that mix was some cooler train rides in beautiful places such as the Silverton Train in Darrango, Colorado and the logging trains of Sumpter, Oregon.

Intermixed in those family years he spent time as a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the local Masonic Lodge. His big passion was supporting and following his boys in their athletic events, and he would even throw in a band concert once in a while. Many will recall that, in order to get the best seat on the football grid, he served on the sideline 'chain gang' for some 15 years in Avenal and some at West Hills College in Coalinga. After the boys left the nest, Ced spent his time investigating and planning how Nina and he would travel to Montana to, guess what, visit his boys and their growing families.

It was clear that Ced's priority was to his wife and family, and you could see that value in his final days through his care and love to his grandchildren. In talking with people about Ced, you always sensed a respect for his convictions, earnestness and desire to do what was 'right' and 'just' in his own quite approach to life.

We truly loved that man and will dearly miss him in our times with him and our visits down at the coffee shop. He would even buy an oatmeal, raisin cookie thinking he was getting away with something that Nina didn't know. Wrong! But just doing so brought that special, unmistakable tilting of his head and twinkle in his eyes that we all will never, ever forget.

Cedric Errol FauntLeRoy is survived by his wife Nina; his three boys, Craig Errol, Jan Errol, and Lyn Errol; sisters-in-law, Susan, Mary and Katie, grandchildren, David, Adele, Brian, Jason, Kevin, Jenna, Dakota, and Savanna.

There will be a Celebration of his Life on Sunday, August 7, 2011, at 4778 W. Alluvial Ave. in Fresno, starting a 2:00 p.m. Come share your wonderful memories of Ced with all. Summer casual attire is requested.

In lieu of flowers, Nina is asking for donations to be made to the Avenal Historical Society Museum, P.O. Box 572, Avenal Ca. 93204.