Alfred Vincent Leon II's Obituary
Alfred Vincent Leon II, aged 88, passed away on September 16, 2023, in Dallas, TX. He was born on April 2, 1935, to Alfred and Athala Leon in Memphis, TN. Alfred is survived by his devoted wife of 29 years, Kara Leon, his children Trip Leon, Dale Millner, Ashton Alkire (son-in-law Marsh Alkire), Parker Leon, and Conner Leon, as well as his grandchildren Brooke and Colton Millner, Mila Diaz, Oak Alkire, and his beloved dog Scout. Additionally, he is survived by his four brothers: Arthur, Ronnie, Larry and David Leon.
Alfred's life was filled with remarkable experiences. Growing up in Memphis, he attended Saint Anne grade school, Christian Brothers High School, and Memphis State University alongside his identical twin brother, Arthur. Alfred also served in the Air Force Reserve for 5 years. He began his career by selling bras door-to-door for Playtex before moving to Dallas and working for Combined American Insurance Co., where he excelled as the top salesperson, traveling throughout Texas.
At the age of 32, Alfred joined IBM in the Products Division, specializing in Word Processing. Due to his exceptional performance at IBM, he was promoted to lead and train sales people globally. Seeking a new challenge at 40, he and Arthur joined the commercial real estate company Coldwell Banker in Dallas, focusing on the industrial warehouse division. After five years of outstanding success and record-breaking performance, they founded Leon Brothers Real Estate, never looking back. Alfred maintained an unwavering work ethic until his final days.
Alfred's influence extended to the construction of numerous commercial real estate buildings in the metroplex, including the iconic 3131 McKinney Ave. His visionary thinking, creativity, and tenacity for making deals marked the 1980s as the heyday of his career. Coming from an immigrant family with limited formal education, he achieved more than most, driven by his remarkable determination and "grit."
He shared valuable life lessons with his family through memorable "Dad-isms," such as "Accept people for who they are, not what you want them to be, and life is a much better place!" Another favorite was, "In life, you will be successful in anything you do if you have tenacity, consistency, and perseverance." When faced with intimidating situations, he would calmly remind them, "They can't eat you!"
Alfred made it a priority to attend all five of his children's sporting events, often showing up in a suit between meetings or after an 8-hour drive. He passionately cheered for his children from the poolside, track, or football field. Alfred was not just a devoted father but also an accomplished athlete. In addition to his day job, he completed 19 marathons, including the Boston Marathon, raced endurance cars, and participated in five Daytona 24-hour races. He was also an avid golfer and instilled a love for the game in his family.
Alfred was a special, genuine, and perpetually optimistic person who cherished time at the beach with friends and delighted in hosting Cinco-de-Mayo parties with his wife, where he would sing along with the Mariachis. He had a passion for reading, often juggling two to three books simultaneously, usually about great leaders of world wars. He provided his family with a well-rounded lifestyle filled with quality time, travel, chores, balance, and love, and little laziness. He was a handsome, sharp dressed man, known for his charm and he will be deeply missed by many.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Alfred Vincent Leon II.
. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Restland Memorial Chapel, located at 13005 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX., 75243.
Funeral arrangements for Alfred Vincent Leon have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
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