Lionel Bennett LeBel

Lionel Bennett LeBel, 92, died peacefully on Nov. 1, 2015 in Los Angeles. He was born in Los Angeles, son of Lionel Bernard LeBel and Eleanor May Wagoner LeBel.

Known as “Butch” by family and friends, he grew up in Beverly Hills, became an Eagle Scout, graduated from UCLA and served as an officer in the Army Air Corps as a B17 navigator, providing food relief to the Netherlands in Operation Chowhound in 1945.

Lionel received his law degree from Stanford in 1950. His career spanned six decades and included criminal, civil and estate law. He was a past president of the Santa Monica Bar Association and a long-time co-chair of the Probate and Trusts committee.  He practiced law in Santa Monica and Brentwood with different partners, most notably with his friend Paul Gaulke, until 2007.

Lionel was a long-time active member and founding president of the Kiwanis Club of Brentwood-Santa Monica. He served on the boards of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Monica Boy’s Club, the UCLA Alumni Council and the Legal Aid Society of Santa Monica. Over the years he was also a Little League coach, volunteered with local political organizations and the Getty Villa.

He and his wife Alice (deceased) were married for nearly 55 years and moved to Rustic Canyon in 1960. In 1995 they relocated to the Palisades Highlands. He treasured the natural beauty of the canyons and the coast. This year he moved to Belmont Village Westwood.

Butch was an advocate for civil rights and social justice, an avid bridge and poker player, wrote poetry, studied history, art and antiquities and enjoyed extensive travels in Europe. He enjoyed fishing and cared about the environment and wildlife conservation, especially for elephants.   Beloved by family and many friends, Butch will be remembered for his positive attitude, his intelligence and curiosity, his fortitude in the face of adversity and a particular sense of humor.

He is survived by son Bruce (Ellen) of Arcata; daughter Toni (Roger) of La Canada; grandchildren Allegra, Eloise, Kyle and Ryan; his brother James (Joan) of Sherman Oaks; and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Save the Redwoods League www.savetheredwoods.org, World Wildlife Fund www.worldwildlife.org or the American Civil Liberties Union www.aclu.org.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.