Walter Lee Ledoux

Walter was born from a marital union between Ewell Joseph and Isabelle Derosier Ledoux in Port Arthur, TX.  At age ten, the family relocated to the Opelousas, LA area (Prairie Ronde), the birthplace of his father.  During this time (4 years), he was able to gain some knowledge and experience in farm life.  The family then relocated to the Tate Cove (Oil Field) Community near Ville Platte, LA.

Walter graduated from Sacred Heart High School, Ville Platte, LA in 1946, followed by a number of technical schools.

He was an Air Force Meteorologist and Weather Equipment Technician during the Korean Conflict (1947-51), serving some time in Japan during the occupation, under Gen. Douglas McArthur.

In 1951, Walter started a 24 year work career with Conoco and Royal Dutch Shell, working on the (6 year) special project (1952-62) developing the first ship “METHANE PIONEER” at Mobile, AL to successfully transport Liquefied Methane Gas (LNG) at minus 260°F.

Walter relocated to Lake Charles, LA in 1958, where the Process, Storage, and Shipping of LNG, (4 trips to England, 1958 and 59) occurred.

After the LNG project was completed in 1962, Walter transferred to the Westlake, LA Conoco facility and worked 13 years to 1975 as a Refinery and Chemical Plant Laboratory Analyst.

From 1975-85, Walter was in the Marine Towing Business with boats pushing barges on the Intracoastal Waterways and the Mississippi River.

From 1986-96, Walter worked on the upper East Coast and all of the Great Lakes, with the exception of Lake Superior, for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company as Vessel Chief Engineer and Captain relief.

Walter continued working part-time in the Marine Environmental Field (Oil Spill Recovery), until 2008.

He was a catholic, a founding member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, a Little League Coach, Scout Leader, Knight of Columbus and member of The American Legion.

Survivors include two sons, Carl Matthew Ledoux and Philip Reed Ledoux, both of Lake Charles, LA; one grandchild, Erykca Ledoux Tinh and husband Robert; two great-grandchildren, Caiden Cole Dunlap and Brooklyn Rae Dunlap, all of Houston, TX; one brother, Raymond Keith Ledoux and wife Nathalie of Hahnville, LA; sister, Barbara Lynn Rion and husband Kenneth of Lake Charles, LA; also numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, John Michael Ledoux and Clarence Eugene Ledoux.

His joy was his family, friends, and traveling.

His funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel.  Deacon George Carr will officiate.  Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery.  Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service, with a Cursillo rosary at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful for your contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN, or a charity of your choice.