Obituary for Leonard Aaron Billa
Leonard Aaron Billa was born in Secunderabad, India to Major Anantha Rao and AnandaBai Billa. He was the younger brother to Angela Chrysolite who loved and cared for him dearly.
Leonard had a wonderful childhood and one of his early memories was walking hand in hand with his Mom and sister to Mom’s choir rehearsals on Saturdays at the Methodist Church Secunderabad. He enjoyed listening to his Mom who was the lead soprano. This inspired in him a life-long love for sacred music and choral singing. He had a beautiful tenor voice and joined the soprano and alto voices of his Mom and sister in song.
Leonard had a flair for the English language which led him to pursue studies in English literature. He graduated with a Master’s degree in English Literature from Osmania University in 1972. He started his career as an English teacher at St. George’s Grammar School in Hyderabad where he had an ardent following of high school students.
Leonard inherited an independent and hard-working nature from his Dad and a soft spoken and mild manner from his Mom. He wanted to make a life outside India and studied air ticketing which led to a job in Saudi Arabia where he worked as a travel & ticketing agent supporting British Airways from 1981 to 1983. Leonard arrived in the US in 1984. He lived and worked in New York before his company moved him to Houston, TX in 1985 where he spent the rest of his life.
In 1986 Leonard then in his mid-30’s had to see an emergency doctor for chest pains and found out he had a heart problem and had open heart surgery. God had saved his life in a miraculous way then and for several times to come. Since then Leonard had to manage his heart condition and grew a deep appreciation for the hand of God in his life. He was strict with diet and exercise and didn’t let his health situation get in the way of his career.
Leonard was very close to his sister Angela and her husband John and his niece and nephew Caroline and Charles. After the loss of his parents in the 90’s they grew even more close.
He enjoyed traveling and traveled to Singapore a few times to visit his nephew’s family and to Egypt and Mount Sinai. Leonard’s home on Ashton Park Drive was home base to the family just as he had intended.
Leonard made a career working for Petrobras America where he served in various positions before retiring as Assistant Corporate Secretary in 2018. He was well respected by his coworkers and peers.
Leonard was blessed to enjoy long-lasting friendship up until his last days with childhood friends and their families who settled in Houston. He is recognized as a God fearing, sweet and endearing man with a mind of his own who was endearing to everyone with his love, kindness and generosity.
Leonard loved the Lord Jesus Christ and followed him all the days of his life. He has been a member of the First United Methodist church since the mid-1980’s and hardly ever missed Sunday Worship.
Leonard is succeeded by his niece Caroline and nephew Charles, their spouses, grand-nephews Caleb, Joshua and Yohan and grand-nieces Joanna and Hosanna.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAY VIEW THE FUNERAL SERVICE VIA THE LINK BELOW.
https://zoom.us/j/94464083333?pwd=SHhuejIrRG1QSG5qRHdzSnRwSzNzdz09
Leonard had a wonderful childhood and one of his early memories was walking hand in hand with his Mom and sister to Mom’s choir rehearsals on Saturdays at the Methodist Church Secunderabad. He enjoyed listening to his Mom who was the lead soprano. This inspired in him a life-long love for sacred music and choral singing. He had a beautiful tenor voice and joined the soprano and alto voices of his Mom and sister in song.
Leonard had a flair for the English language which led him to pursue studies in English literature. He graduated with a Master’s degree in English Literature from Osmania University in 1972. He started his career as an English teacher at St. George’s Grammar School in Hyderabad where he had an ardent following of high school students.
Leonard inherited an independent and hard-working nature from his Dad and a soft spoken and mild manner from his Mom. He wanted to make a life outside India and studied air ticketing which led to a job in Saudi Arabia where he worked as a travel & ticketing agent supporting British Airways from 1981 to 1983. Leonard arrived in the US in 1984. He lived and worked in New York before his company moved him to Houston, TX in 1985 where he spent the rest of his life.
In 1986 Leonard then in his mid-30’s had to see an emergency doctor for chest pains and found out he had a heart problem and had open heart surgery. God had saved his life in a miraculous way then and for several times to come. Since then Leonard had to manage his heart condition and grew a deep appreciation for the hand of God in his life. He was strict with diet and exercise and didn’t let his health situation get in the way of his career.
Leonard was very close to his sister Angela and her husband John and his niece and nephew Caroline and Charles. After the loss of his parents in the 90’s they grew even more close.
He enjoyed traveling and traveled to Singapore a few times to visit his nephew’s family and to Egypt and Mount Sinai. Leonard’s home on Ashton Park Drive was home base to the family just as he had intended.
Leonard made a career working for Petrobras America where he served in various positions before retiring as Assistant Corporate Secretary in 2018. He was well respected by his coworkers and peers.
Leonard was blessed to enjoy long-lasting friendship up until his last days with childhood friends and their families who settled in Houston. He is recognized as a God fearing, sweet and endearing man with a mind of his own who was endearing to everyone with his love, kindness and generosity.
Leonard loved the Lord Jesus Christ and followed him all the days of his life. He has been a member of the First United Methodist church since the mid-1980’s and hardly ever missed Sunday Worship.
Leonard is succeeded by his niece Caroline and nephew Charles, their spouses, grand-nephews Caleb, Joshua and Yohan and grand-nieces Joanna and Hosanna.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAY VIEW THE FUNERAL SERVICE VIA THE LINK BELOW.
https://zoom.us/j/94464083333?pwd=SHhuejIrRG1QSG5qRHdzSnRwSzNzdz09