Dr. Leon T. Jordan, Jr.

Born in Charlotte, NC on July 7, 1930 he was the only child to Audrey Daniels Jordan of Pennsylvania, and Leon Tysor Jordan Sr. of Siler City.

Leon spent his early years in Raleigh, NC before the family moved to Jersey Shore, PA. As the stories go, Leon left his mark on Jersey Shore, PA before coming home to Raleigh, NC where he graduated from Hugh Morson High School in 1949. After high school, Leon briefly enrolled in NC State, however left to enlist in the US Navy and serve his country during the Korean War. He toured for 4 years with the US Navy Band onboard the USS Roanoke.

When he returned home from the Navy, Leon re-enrolled at NC State and married the "girl down the street" Miss Shirley Clyde Poole on September 3, 1955. Together they took on the world. Having completed both his Masters of Science in Engineering and his PhD in Metallurgical Engineering, Dr. Jordan spent many years on the NC State faculty where he was awarded the prestigious Alumni Outstanding Teacher and School of Engineering Outstanding Teacher Awards in 1982 and also taught the first experimental course in music technology.

While Leon is known for many things, he is best known for his musical talent. When he first picked up a horn at the age of 14 a neighbor, who was a band director, said that he was horrible and would never be any good. Leon accepted that challenge, and practiced nonstop sitting at a window, where he could be heard clearly by his critic. The band director later invited him back for lessons.

After high school Leon traveled to New York City to study with the legendary Dr. Charles Colin, who became a lifelong friend. In 1957, Leon Jordan's Continentals Orchestra was formed. They played Big Band Music all over NC and as far north as Washington DC and could be found playing into the earliest hours of every New Year while people danced the night away. Leon Jordan’s Continentals Orchestra played over 500 engagements at the Radisson Governor’s Inn. Though the band has been through many transitions over the years, Leon Jordan's Continentals can still be heard today, with Leon’s son, Vic, on trumpet. Leon loved to share his love of music through lessons. Every new trumpet player in town knew that they wanted to sit beside Leon Jordan, and he made sure that he got time with as many as he could. The luckiest students of his also got to call him Daddy and Granddaddy.

To the world Dr. Jordan was a fantastic teacher, an amazing musician and a timeless gentleman. To his family, he was a world class father, a joking grandfather, a storyteller, a teacher of life lessons and sometimes a makeshift living room veterinarian. To say he was an avid train collector would be an understatement. He could tell you what made every locomotive magical, and he repaired countless locomotives that still run beneath family Christmas trees today.

The lessons and stories of Leon Jordan live on with his loving wife Shirley, of 68 years, as well as his 5 children… Christiana Buck (Gale), Leon Jordan III (Lisa), Victor Jordan (Aimee), Cheryl Slovensky (David), and Cynthia Rozier (Horace). In addition, he has 11 grandchildren… Felicity Barnes (Eric), Jordan Davis (Marc), Noel Liotta (Chris), Brandon Jordan, Brad Jordan (Natalie), Will Jordan, Emily Jordan, Samantha Slovensky, Wendy Slovensky, Tripp Rozier and Cody Rozier, who carry his lessons deeply engrained in their minds and hearts, and he has 6 great grandchildren… Addison, Emmalyn and Evan Barnes, Farrah Davis, Avery Liotta and Nora Jordan that have been lucky enough to enjoy a few story times of their own. His family and friends will miss him greatly.

A Memorial Service will be held at Saint Paul's Christian Church on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 1:00 pm immediately followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent in Leon's honor to Saint Paul’s Christian Church, 3331 Blue Ridge Rd. Raleigh, NC 27612.

Services provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St, Raleigh, NC 27605.