Leon F. Slocomb Jr., a lifelong resident of the Wilmington area, died on October 6, 2023, in the ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital after a brief illness at the age of 94.
After graduating PS Dupont High School, Leon worked in hourly positions at Artic Roofing, the General Motors Assembly Plant, and DuPont. In 1961 he pursued his long-held dream and founded Slocomb Industries, Inc., beginning his long career as founder and CEO of an entrepreneurial business. Over time Slocomb Industries manufactured vinyl windows, designed window systems, and extruded PVC window frame materials. After selling his business to Belgium based Deceuninck in 1995, Leon transitioned from CEO to Board Chairman, and retired in 2000. He remained active during retirement spending time with his family, travelling extensively with his wife Margaret, and mentoring and providing seed money to business owners locally, and to window manufacturers in Ukraine and Russia.
Leon was a Freemason, and was a long term and active member of St. Barnabas Church. Recognized as a pioneer in the vinyl window industry, Leon was a member and past Chairman of The Vinyl Window and Door Institute, and a member of the Society of the Plastics Industry Board of Directors, both related national trade associations. In 2005 Junior Achievement of Delaware named Leon Business Man of the Year. Among the many ways he and Margaret gave back to the community, they sponsored two scholarships for local students in financial need to attend the University of Delaware.
Leon especially enjoyed duck and goose hunting with his sons Colin and Chris. He had his private pilot’s license, and he was engaged for years during retirement in building a high-performance airplane. He loved people, he was very kind and respectful to everyone, and he was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. And he thrived on being with his family.
Leon is pre-deceased by his first wife Doris (1961), Margaret, his wife of 58 years (2019), son-in-law Glenn Pinder (1999), and great-granddaughter Jatly Pinder (2016). He is survived by his 5 children - Carl Slocomb (Mary Ann), Conny Pinder (John Parson), Colin Slocomb, Chris Slocomb (Lynn), and Carol Strukelj (Marko), and by 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 11am, Monday October 16. Friends may call starting at 9 am, and interment will be immediately following the service at the St. Barnabas Memorial Garden.
The family requests that any donations be sent to St. Barnabas Church, 2800 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19808. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.mccreryandharra.com
