1919
Robert
2012
Robert Ledyard
May 5, 1919 — December 12, 2012
Robert Elisha "Bob" Ledyard, Jr., peacefully departed this earthly life on December 12, 2012. This kind, caring, and accomplished gentleman will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.
Bob was born May 5, 1919, in Beaumont, Texas, to Robert E. Ledyard, Sr., and Fannie Lou Brooks Ledyard. As an infant, he returned with his parents to his father's childhood home in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduation from Sidney Lanier High School in 1937, Bob was employed by Alabama Power Company as a tree trimmer.
In September 1940, Bob enrolled at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) as a Cooperative Education student in the Electrical Engineering curriculum. He was member of Lambda Chi social fraternity. On September 30, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and continued his engineering studies as a part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He was later discharged from the Army and immediately commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps after being one of fifty engineering students so selected following a nationwide competition. He saw combat as an officer in the First Marine Division in the Pacific Theater in Pelelia, during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Okinawa.
In 1946, he returned to his studies at A.P.I as a Co-Op student and to his employment with Alabama Power Company. In August 1947, he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. He was a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi, two engineering honorary societies. Following graduation, Bob resumed full-time employment with Alabama Power Company and worked in several engineering, supervisory, and managerial positions in Demopolis, Clanton, and Selma, Alabama. He had been District Manager in Selma, Alabama, for 15 years when he retired from Alabama Power Company in 1985 after more than 48 years of service.
On January 17, 1950, Bob made what he called "my best decision" when he married Edna "Sister" Griffin. They moved to Selma in late 1957, reared their 3 children, enjoyed hundreds of wonderful friends and acquaintances, and reluctantly left on their 56th anniversary because of Edna's terminal illness. Bob lived his remaining years in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bob was the Chairman of the Dallas County Chapter of the Red Cross in 1976-1978, President of the Selma Kiwanis Club in 1971-72, and an officer or board member of numerous charitable and social organizations in Dallas County over the years. Bob was a lifelong Episcopalian who served as an acolyte at St. John's Episcopal Church in Montgomery, as a lay reader and on the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis and, later, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma. In the last 7 years of his life, he attended St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Huntsville.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 56 years Edna Griffin Ledyard, his sisters Molly Ledyard McGough and Lucy Ledyard Simmons, and a brother Thomas Brooks Ledyard. He is survived by his brother William Morgan Ledyard of Montgomery, AL; his children Robert E. Ledyard III (Jennifer) of Huntsville, AL; Goodman G.Ledyard (Laura) of Mobile, AL; Melanie Ledyard Lanphier (Charlie) of Macon, GA; and grandchildren Ann Edna Ledyard, Katherine Brooks Ledyard, Goodman Griffin Ledyard, Jr., Charles Elisha Lanphier and Mary Hannah Lanphier, as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2012, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma, Alabama, with a graveside service to follow at 2:30 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Demopolis, Alabama. Prior to the service, visitation will be in the Parish Hall of the church at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Heart Association or St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Bob was born May 5, 1919, in Beaumont, Texas, to Robert E. Ledyard, Sr., and Fannie Lou Brooks Ledyard. As an infant, he returned with his parents to his father's childhood home in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduation from Sidney Lanier High School in 1937, Bob was employed by Alabama Power Company as a tree trimmer.
In September 1940, Bob enrolled at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) as a Cooperative Education student in the Electrical Engineering curriculum. He was member of Lambda Chi social fraternity. On September 30, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and continued his engineering studies as a part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He was later discharged from the Army and immediately commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps after being one of fifty engineering students so selected following a nationwide competition. He saw combat as an officer in the First Marine Division in the Pacific Theater in Pelelia, during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Okinawa.
In 1946, he returned to his studies at A.P.I as a Co-Op student and to his employment with Alabama Power Company. In August 1947, he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. He was a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi, two engineering honorary societies. Following graduation, Bob resumed full-time employment with Alabama Power Company and worked in several engineering, supervisory, and managerial positions in Demopolis, Clanton, and Selma, Alabama. He had been District Manager in Selma, Alabama, for 15 years when he retired from Alabama Power Company in 1985 after more than 48 years of service.
On January 17, 1950, Bob made what he called "my best decision" when he married Edna "Sister" Griffin. They moved to Selma in late 1957, reared their 3 children, enjoyed hundreds of wonderful friends and acquaintances, and reluctantly left on their 56th anniversary because of Edna's terminal illness. Bob lived his remaining years in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bob was the Chairman of the Dallas County Chapter of the Red Cross in 1976-1978, President of the Selma Kiwanis Club in 1971-72, and an officer or board member of numerous charitable and social organizations in Dallas County over the years. Bob was a lifelong Episcopalian who served as an acolyte at St. John's Episcopal Church in Montgomery, as a lay reader and on the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis and, later, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma. In the last 7 years of his life, he attended St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Huntsville.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 56 years Edna Griffin Ledyard, his sisters Molly Ledyard McGough and Lucy Ledyard Simmons, and a brother Thomas Brooks Ledyard. He is survived by his brother William Morgan Ledyard of Montgomery, AL; his children Robert E. Ledyard III (Jennifer) of Huntsville, AL; Goodman G.Ledyard (Laura) of Mobile, AL; Melanie Ledyard Lanphier (Charlie) of Macon, GA; and grandchildren Ann Edna Ledyard, Katherine Brooks Ledyard, Goodman Griffin Ledyard, Jr., Charles Elisha Lanphier and Mary Hannah Lanphier, as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2012, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma, Alabama, with a graveside service to follow at 2:30 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Demopolis, Alabama. Prior to the service, visitation will be in the Parish Hall of the church at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Heart Association or St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Service Details
Saturday, December 15th, 2012, 11:00am, St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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