Leroy Embler

Leroy “Frosty” Embler, 97, passed away peacefully on November, 22, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was born on a farm in Alexander, NC, the seventh of eleven children to the late Rev. Mitchell Embler and Doshie Griffin Embler. He earned the nickname “Frosty” from his grandmother, when the sun was shining on his light hair, she often said that she could see him coming from far away. Leroy was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Ruby McGalliard Embler and nine siblings. He is survived by two brothers, David and John “Red” Embler, both of Alexander; two daughters, Patricia Embler Wagstaff and her husband James Wagstaff of Charleston, S.C., and Sandra Embler and her husband Michael Shavers of Olney, Md., as well as several nieces and nephews. Leroy will be remembered as a quiet, kind man, with a gentle spirit who loved God and his family above all else. When asked the secret to his long life, he confidently quoted the biblical Commandment, “honor your father and your mother so that your days may be long.” Leroy was a World War II Army veteran, volunteering for service shortly before the United States entered the conflict. He served as a Foreman with the 42nd Engineer Construction Battalion, a unit of the Army Corps of Engineers. He was assigned to the Aleutian Islands as well as Whittier, and Nome, Alaska. His unit laid train tracks and built support facilities and floating bridges for follow-on combat units that repelled Japanese forces who had occupied some of the Aleutian Islands. Later, he was assigned to various locations in the Philippines, again building support facilities and bridges for combat forces advancing on the Japanese homeland. Following his discharge from the Army shortly after the end of the war in 1945, Leroy transferred his skills to construction. He worked as a plasterer and brick mason on many public buildings in and around the Asheville, N.C. area—this included many industrial buildings and schools. Leroy was a lifetime member of Alexander Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, as well as in other church leadership roles. The family would like to thank the staff of Roper Saint Francis Hospice and his home health aide for their tireless care and attention. Words cannot express how much your compassion and support meant both to Leroy and the family. Funeral services with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 25 in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home, with the Rev. Gerald Sprinkle officiating. Interment to follow at Ashelawn Garden of Memory. His family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the Charles George VA Medical Center or the Wounded Warrior Project.