Russell "Ricky" Richard Leach, age 70, of Hot Springs,Arkansas

COTTONPORT - Funeral services Russell Richard (Ricky) Leach, Jr. will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 6, at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church in Cottonport, with Fr. Jose' Sanchez officiating. Interment will be on Friday, September 9, 2016 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Visitation is scheduled at Escude' Funeral Home on Monday, September 5, from 5:00 –9:00 pm and will resume the following morning at St. Mary’s Church from 8:30 until time of the service.
Russell Richard (Ricky) Leach, Jr., 70, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent's Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Thursday, September 1, 2016.
Ricky was born on March 9, 1946, the oldest of four children to Russell Leach, Sr. and Janet Callegari Leach. He attended St. Mary's Assumption Elementary School and graduated from Cottonport High School in 1964. He joined the United States Air Force after high school and served on bases in Reykjavik, Iceland, Florida, Texas, and Illinois. Ricky was honorably discharged in 1968. He graduated from LSU with a B.S. degree in marketing. Most of Ricky's life and career was spent in Baton Rouge area where he worked in heavy construction equipment sales and rental business.
Ricky and Virginia moved to their home in a beautiful little valley in Bismarck, Arkansas in 2006. He retired two years ago.
As a very devout Catholic he was known for studying his faith, prayer life, and evangelizing. He had a great devotion to Jesus and especially loved the Blessed Virgin Mary. He and Virginia made year pilgrimages to Spain in Her honor. He brought his children up to be responsible, caring and God loving; attributes that they are passing on to their own children. '
'Rick, we are all sad because we feel you left us before your time, but God had other plans for one of his most devout children. We all know and believe that we will be reunited with you one day.''
Ricky, also known as ''ROCK'', loved the outdoors and spent many days hunting with his son, two brothers, nephews, extended family and friends in the woods in Grassy Lake and Three Rivers Game Management Area, as well as the marshes of southwest Louisiana. He was a loving ''big brother'' who watched over his three younger siblings and helped guide them through ''kid things'' in life as a big brother should. Ricky made many friends throughout his life and was always considered to be dependable and someone who kept his word.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Ricky is survived by his wife, Virginia Hill Leach; two children, Kaya Leach (Eric) Vice of Zachary and Trent Leach of Port Vincent; stepsons, Jeffery (Carolyn) Dorworth of Fairhaven, New Jersey, and Gregory Dorworth of Fredrick, Maryland; brothers, Craig (Jan) Leach of DeRidder and Lee (Peggy) Leach of Tioga; sister Elizabeth Leach of Lafayette; grandchildren, Chaeli Vice, Cecilia Vice, Isaac Vice, Amelia Vice, Brayden Leach, Chase Dorworth, Cole Dorworth, and Ava Dorworth; a host of nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.
Pallbearers honored to serve will be his nephews, Bryan Leach, Benjamin Leach, Christopher Leach, Michael Leach; son-in-law, Eric Vice; close family friends, Robert Lemoine, Jody Gauthier, and Vernon (Butch) Ducote. Cousin, Greg Hollis, will serve as cross bearer.