HAROLD LEON YAP “LEON”

Born on February 5, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaii
Departed on June 16, 2025, in Palm Bay, Florida

Harold Leon Yap “Leon”, 78, died unexpectedly June 16, 2025, at Holmes Regional Hospital, Melbourne FL. He was born on February 5, 1947, in Honolulu HI, son to the late Harold Leong and Mary Frances (Buff) Yap.

Leon graduated from Narimasu High School in Tokyo, Japan, Class of 1965. He then joined the United States Marine Corps and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded one Purple Hearts and retired as a Staff Sergeant.

Following his military service, Leon was valedictorian of his graduating class at Leeward Community College in Pearl City HI where he received a Liberal Arts degree in 1976. He also attended the University of Hawaii.

He moved to Florida in the late 1980s where he started the Eagle Construction business. He then worked as a mailman for 17 years before retiring from the US Postal Service. Retirement gave Leon and his wife Patty the time to enjoy their love for traveling, taking road trips throughout the United States, as well as Alaskan and Caribbean cruises, and a trip abroad to Israel.

Leon is survived by his wife, Patricia “Patty” Marie (Bowman) Yap; his children: son Gary Leon Yap, daughter Lisa Frances (Yap) Sugimura and her husband Sean Sugimura, son Andrew Kekailoa Yap, daughter Kelci Makamae Yap, and stepdaughter Jessica Bowman and her husband Jonathan Sanchez; and five grandchildren: Samantha Yap, Shayley Beth Yap, Kaeo Sugimura, Kiara Sugimura, and Kaliya Yap. He is also survived by his seven sisters: Letha Palmanteer and her husband Monte, Yolanda Domyan, Sylvia Brown and her husband Roger, Mary Pascua and her husband Randy, Theresa Yap and her partner Rudy Piano, Dodie Kekuewa and her husband Isaac, and Pauline Yap and her husband Norman Miyasato, as well as many nieces and nephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins. In addition, he is survived by his beloved service dog Oliver and Oliver’s sister Pumpkin.

A military honor ceremony will be held on October 3rd 2025 at 11:00am at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.