Leroy C. Bayliss, 86, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2024, at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Leroy was born August 2, 1937 in Sherwood, Ohio, the son of the late J.V. "Vern" and Ruth R. (Renz) Bayliss. He was a 1955 graduate of Sherwood Delaware High School. As a co-op student, he attended General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan studying mechanical engineering and worked at the Frigidaire Division of GM in Dayton, Ohio. He continued his studies at The Ohio State University. In 1960, he enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1963. On April 28, 1974 he married Barbara Ellen Armstrong.

Leroy worked as a Tool Designer at Defiance Screw Machine Products in Defiance, Ohio. He then worked at DOTCO, Inc in Hicksville, Ohio as a Manufacturing Engineer. In 1978, he was employed by Bettcher Industries in Vermilion, Ohio as Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and later as Manufacturing Manager. In 1990, he worked at NEMCO Medical, Inc. in Hicksville, Ohio until retirement in 1999. He was awarded two U.S. patents for surgical instruments. He was a life member of the Defiance County Fish & Game Association where he served several years as secretary/treasurer and was cashier of the trapshooting committee. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. He joined Sherwood Lodge #620 Free & Accepted Masons in 1960 and served the lodge as Worshipful Master in 1969. He was appointed District Education Officer for 1970 and from 1972-74 he was District Deputy Grand Master of the Fifth Masonic District.

Leroy was a past member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association, Northeast Indiana Banjo Society, and a member of Curly's Country Grass. He also played music as a member of the Bayliss Twins Musical Duo and The Northeast Indiana Banjo Society. In 1969, Leroy was selected by Rotary International District 660 to be a member of the Group Study Exchange Team to Iceland. Hobbies included: fishing, shooting, knife making, machining, square dancing, and music.

Leroy is survived by his stepdaughter Jean (Thomas) Hubbard; grandchildren Jennifer (CW2 Mark) Gennero, Whitney (Paul) Hogan and Eric Hubbard; great grandchildren Amelia and Rosalie Gennero, and Owen and Graham Hogan; and sister-in-law Judy Bayliss. He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Ellen Bayliss, parents Vern and Ruth Bayliss, twin brother Lee Bayliss, sister Jeanette Speiser, and brother-in-law, John Speiser.

Visitation and services for Leroy C. Bayliss will be held on Saturday, June 15 at Schaffer Funeral Home, 529 Jefferson Ave. in Defiance. Visitation will be from 9:00 -11:00 a.m., funeral services at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Chuck Schmunk officiating, immediately followed by a Masonic service. Burial will follow at Sherwood Cemetery, Sherwood, Ohio.

Memorials are suggested to The Defiance Masonic Temple Building Fund, The Ohio Masonic Home Foundation, and Friends of the Sherwood Library.

The Ohio Masonic Home Foundation
2655 West National Road, Springfield OH 45504

Defiance Masonic Temple Assoc. - c/o Building Fund
125 Clinton Street, Defiance OH

Friends of the Sherwood Library
117 N. Harrison Street, Sherwood OH 43556