Robert "Leroy" Stewart

Robert "Leroy" Stewart, of Opelika, Alabama, passed away on August 29, 2026, at Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital, at the age of 82. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.

Leroy was born on May 11, 1944, in St. Stephens, AL to Robert and Mary Stewart, who preceded him in death, along with his sisters, Sue and Faye. He spent his childhood in St. Stephens, alongside his four siblings, which is where the foundation was laid for the man he would later become. After graduating from Leroy High School, Leroy set off for Auburn University, where he began his college career before serving in the Vietnam War.

Leroy served proudly in the war from 1967 to 1969, and, after returning home, worked on oil rigs before going back to finish what he started — graduating from Auburn. While at Auburn, he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and never missed a chance to get out on the court or field for any sort of pickup game. That competitive streak stuck with him for life as he went on to play basketball and softball in his church's recreational league for many years. Along the way, he also began playing tennis — a game his grandchildren, Finn and Imogene, would go on to excel at themselves.

After graduating from Auburn, Leroy opened his own finance company and built a career around a sharp eye for opportunity, later branching into real estate investing. When he reached retirement age, most people would have slowed down — Leroy simply changed direction, becoming a real estate agent, specializing in land and commercial properties. It wasn't until recently that he finally stepped back from the business, choosing instead to spend his time following the lives of his sons and grandchildren — a trade he never once regretted.

Leroy was a man of deep and steady faith, active for decades at what is now known as Trinity Church, where he found not just community but genuine peace. Just about everyone in town knew him from somewhere. If not from church, then from the coffee club he faithfully attended for as long as anyone can remember, where he collected many of the jokes and stories that made him such good company. He was a natural storyteller, and there was rarely a conversation with him that didn't end in a laugh.

Community service was an important part of Leroy's life. As an active member of the Kiwanis Club, he generously gave his time and energy to projects that strengthened the community and helped those in need. He served as the president of his local chapter for a period of time, a role he embraced with enthusiasm and humility. Through Kiwanis, he built lasting friendships and left a meaningful legacy of service. He also served on the board of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, lending his time and business insight to help strengthen the local community.

As he got older, his love of sports shifted from playing to watching. Leroy was an unshakeable Auburn fan, tuning into Auburn Tigers football every single Saturday. It was a rare moment to find him at home without a game of some kind playing on the television. But as much as he loved a good game, nothing brought him more joy than his family. He was immensely proud of his sons and grandchildren and took every opportunity he could to spend time with all of them, especially Finn and Imogene, who knew him simply as 'Grandad.'

The heart of those family visits was Lake Martin, a place Leroy cherished, where the family came together every Fourth of July. Decades ago, he, with the help of friends and family, built a small cabin there by hand, and later replaced it with the lake house that stands there today — a place filled with the kind of memories he cared about most.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Frances "Duffy" Stewart; his son, Phillip Stewart; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert "Rob" and Audrey Stewart, and their children, Finn and Imogene Stewart; and his siblings, James Stewart and Louise Grimes, and their families.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.

A memorial service for Leroy will be held at a later date for family and close friends.