Leonard Baptiste

New Bedford — Leonard Baptiste, 84, of Dartmouth, died May 7, 2011, at St. Luke’s Hospital after a short illness. He was the husband of Honorina (Amaral-Souza) Baptiste and the late Gladys (Leconte) Baptiste.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Manuel and Mary (Pacheco) Baptiste. He lived in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Rochester, and Dartmouth. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, who served in the Pacific. Subsequently, he served and retired from the U.S. Army Reserves at Fort Rodman. He was the original founder and manager of Lennie’s Soda Shop at County and Cove Streets in New Bedford. He was employed at Morse Cutting Tools for almost 40 years and retired in 1989.
Other survivors include a daughter Gail Wallace and her husband Earle of Pikesville, MD; three sons, Leonard Baptiste, Jr. and his wife Christine of Fairfax Station, VA; Gary Baptiste and his wife Beverly of Middleboro, MA; Glenn Baptiste and his wife Jeannine of Marlton, NJ; and a stepson Steven Souza and his wife Thelma of Lakeville, MA; nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Baptiste was the brother of the late Leonora Syracuse and Rita Baptiste.
Mr. Baptiste’s funeral will be Tuesday from the Perry Funeral Home 111 Dartmouth St. at 7:30 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church Rochester at 9 A.M. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 5-8 P.M. In Accordance with his wishes he will be cremated. The burial of his ashes will be done at the convenience of the Family at a later date.
In Lieu of Flowers a donation may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Massachusetts Office, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA. 02110