Leroy “Rocky” Battles

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed away peacefully at his home in La Crescenta on February 20, 2011.  He was 82 years young.

Rocky was born in Hastings, NE, on February 2, 1929, to Lyman Battles and Dorothy Rutt Battles.  He attended Hastings High School, where he graduated in 1947, and soon found his way to San Diego, CA, where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country proudly in the Ski Patrol Corps of the 10th Infantry Division during the Korean War.

Afterwards, he returned to San Diego and there met Ann Johnson.  He proposed to her after their first date and they were married in 1959.  Rocky and Ann would have celebrated their 52nd Wedding Anniversary this June.  In 1963, they moved to the La Crescenta area with their two children, Eric L. Battles and Robbyn Battles-Paschal.  Rocky attended the Art Institute in Beverly Hills, prior to its move to Pasadena, and, after having held various positions, landed a job as an artist for the Art Department at Security Pacific Bank.  Earlier experience in the construction field led him and Ann to enter the real estate industry as one of the founding partners of Many Mansions Realty in La Crescenta.  After leaving Many Mansions Realty, he established Battles Investments, A Real Estate Company, which his daughter Robbyn successfully runs today.  With his constant smile, easy going manner and tremendous work ethic, Rocky was beloved and respected by all who knew him.  He retired in 1984, but his tireless energy and unequaled love of family kept him dabbling in various family business ventures through 2010.

A lifelong bodybuilder and physical fitness enthusiast, Rocky was awarded Mr. Nebraska of 1954.  His workout buddy was the renowned actor of “Hercules” movie fame, Steve Reeves.  He also enjoyed playing golf several times a week with his favorite group of golf buddies and just a few years ago, enjoyed his first hole-in-one.

He is survived by his beloved wife Ann; his son Eric and his wife Diane; his daughter Robbyn and her husband Frank; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Michael and Taylor, of La Crescenta; two step-grandchildren, Katerina Pecinovsky of Blacksburg, VA and Alexandra Pecinovsky of La Crescenta; his sister Betty Vullo of FL; a multitude of cousins and his Uncle Raymond Rutt of Hastings, NE.

Rocky was laid to rest as a United States Army Veteran of Foreign Wars at Riverside National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society.

He was our beloved Rock and we will forever miss him.

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