Walter Lee Ledoux

March 15, 1930 - May 2, 2016
LAKE CHARLES - Funeral services were held for Walter Lee Ledoux, 86, of Lake Charles, at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Lake Charles at 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 4. Burial followed in the Consolata Cemetery.
Mr. Ledoux died Monday, May 2, 2016. He was born from a marital union between Ewell Joseph and Isabelle Derosier Ledoux in Port Arthur, Texas. At age 10, the family relocated to the Opelousas area (Prairie Ronde), the birthplace of his father. During this time (four 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. His joy was his family, friends, and traveling.
He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Ville Platte 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.
He relocated to Lake Charles in 1958, where the process, storage and shipping of LNG, (four trips to England in 1958 and 1959) 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.
He 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; one grandchild, Erykca Ledoux Tinh and her husband, Robert, and two great-grandchildren, Caiden Cole Dunlap and Brooklyn Rae Dunlap, all of Houston, Texas; one brother, Raymond Keith Ledoux and his wife, Nathalie of Hahnville; one sister, Barbara Lynn Rion and her husband, Kenneth, of Lake Charles; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
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.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, John Michael Ledoux and Clarence Eugene Ledoux.
Deacon George Carr officiated.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net
Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles was in charge of arrangements.