June 30, 1931 – December 19, 2009
Published in Santa Barbara News-Press, Sunday, December 27, 2009
Born in Carlin, Nevada, Leon and his brother Ray and parents came to California when he was 3 months old. His early childhood was spent in Hollywood, where his parents owned and operated a beauty and barber shop.
The family moved into their first home in Burbank in 1938. Leon attended McKinley Grammar and then went to Burbank High School (BHS). In high school he lettered in track and played JV football and also helped to publish the BHS yearbook, taking photos. He met Lee in his senior year and began dating and dancing. After graduation, they were married and he went to work for Associated Telephone Company in Santa Monica where their three children were born started grammar school.
A job transfer and the move to their new home in Thousand Oaks in 1960. Here Leon became very active in community organizations as part of GTE involvement in community service groups. He spent many hours with The Chamber of Commerce, Lion’s Club International, Toastmasters, Twilite Golf League and the Conejo Players Little Theatre. The family enjoyed camping with their children and friends. Later, they enjoyed lots of water skiing with the new boat and many trips to beautiful lakes and rivers.
A job transfer and move to Santa Barbara in 1971, was a big adjustment, however, they found that there were several friends from the Santa Monica days here and they met lots of new friends, whom made them feel so welcomed. GTE friends remain today their closest buddies. They have enjoyed retirement, many wonderful trips, cruises, and have parties together.
The Erickson’s also see many of their high school friends and have twice organized an investment club and social get-togethers. They have participated in all BHS reunions over the years with their 60th coming up in 2010.
After downsizing to Rancho Santa Barbara (RSB), Leon became the first president of the Homeowners Association and served for the first year of setup. Later he managed PBQ; and breakfast fundraising events. Leon became sick in mid- 2009, and on December 19, 2009 he passed away from melanoma and cancerous brain tumor.
Leon is survived by his wife Lee, daughter Nona and son-in-law Rich Hull, sons, Stuart and Glen Ericksen, grandchildren, Candice Nelson, Carrie Hull, Shauna and Kyle Ericksen and Robert Lemay, Brittany and Sean Ericksen and Travis Goodwin, great-grandchildren, Colin and Conner Nelson, Lizzie and RJ Lemay; brother, Ray Ericksen and sister-in-law, Margareta, niece Karen Ericksen, and husband, Jean-Pierre Fallou; nephew, Carl Ericksen and wife Anna Ericksen.
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