R.D. Ledford

R.D. Ledford, 93, retired electrician for Monsanto Chemical Company and resident of Columbia, died Sunday, October 27, 2019 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Christine Penner officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. and Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Mt. Nebo Cemetery Fund, c/o Carol Baker, 3152 Williamsport Pike, Williamsport, TN 38487. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born March 1, 1926 in Overton County, he was the son of the late Bob Ledford and the late Dora Smith Ledford. At the age of 8 years old he went to live with Tom and Frances Bowman and family including their daughters, Jane and Bonnie, who never knew that he was not their brother. In the 1940s at the age of 15, his Agriculture teacher at Columbia Central High School took him to his first UT game. R.D. became a huge fan and saw them play anywhere from Rutgers, New Jersey to Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1944 during World War II, he joined the United States Navy and was Fire Controlman, 3rd Class on the USS Barton. Mr. Ledford participated in the D-Day operations in Normandy, also the Battle of Okinawa, in the Philippines Campaigns, and was at the peace signing with the Japanese, where he was one of the few allowed to visit Tokyo. He received several medals for his valor, Victory Medal, Euro-Afri-Mid-East Medal, American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, and Philippine Operation Medal. After his discharge in 1946, he returned home to the Bowman’s, at this time he wanted to go to the University of Tennessee and Mrs. Bowman convinced him to go back and finish his senior year of high school. In 1947, he graduated from Columbia Central High School and also met his bride of 70 years, Sammie Prince, whom he married July 8, 1949. Mr. Ledford was member of Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Sammie Prince Ledford of Columbia; sons, Phillip Dwight (Jeanie) Ledford of Columbia; David Wyatt (Martha) Ledford of Kingston; sister, Bonnie Bowman of Columbia; grandchildren, Brecca (Robbie) Meigs of Summertown; Heather Hayden (Keith Urban) of Lawrenceburg; Adam (Lindsey) Johnson of Columbia; great grandchildren, Chase, Alex, Gage; two great great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Betty (James) Clark of Williamsport; Ruth Prince of Columbia; many nieces and nephews including a special niece, Janice Troope; and special family friends, Megan and Rachel Bryant. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his foster parents, Tom and Frances Bowman; foster sister, Jane Alden; brothers, William Ledford, Tillman Ledford, Clifton Ledford, and Kenneth Ledford. Active pallbearers will be Stan Bell, Pat Prince, Bobby Prince, Mike Prince, Garrett Jones, and Frank Allen Thomas. Honorary pallbearers include Jimmy Grimmitt, Dr. Ben High, former employees and retirees of Monsanto Chemical Company, and former and current members of Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church. The family would like to express a special thanks to Compassus, Dr. Ben Gardner, Margot Dowds, and 3rd floor nurses at Maury Regional Medical Center.