Robert “Bob” West LeMond Jr. died Jan. 6 from natural causes. He was 94.
LeMond’s voice has been in millions of American homes via radio and television since the 1930s, announcing such popular radio and TV programs as “Leave it to Beaver,” “Ozzie and Harriet,” “My Friend Irma,” “Life with Luigi,” “Our Miss Brooks,” “Spike Jones,” “Red Skelton,” “Bat Masterson” and such specials as the Tournament of Roses and the Academy Awards.
LeMond was also the familiar voice on countless television commercials, including those for Oldsmobile, Dial Soap, Johnson’s Wax, and those classic spots for “Raid” bug spray (which are still playing on Nick-at-Nite). LeMond announced the entire two-and-a-half year run of Lucille Ball’s first sitcom, “My Favorite Husband,” from its CBS Radio debut on July 5, 1948 until it went off the air on March 31, 1951.
LeMond was born on April 11, 1913 in Hale Center, Texas but was raised in Southern California where he began his broadcasting career in the mid-1930s, spending most of it with CBS. He met Barbara Brewster of the 20th Century Fox “Brewster Twins” during a World War II USO show while stationed in the South Pacific. They were married for 59 years until she died in 2005.
LeMond is survived by his three sons, Rob, Stephen and Barry and five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, Calif. or a charity of your choice.