James W. Ledbetter

James W. Ledbetter, age 73, died Friday, October 28, 2005 at St. Joe's Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. 

Jim was born in Elizabethtown, IL, the son of Herbert and Lucille Ledbetter. After graduating high school in 1950, Jim traveled to Colorado to work in mining. He returned to Owosso, MI in search of manufacturing work. He then moved to downtown Detroit where he worked in the Cadillac factory. He was drafted into the Army. After honorable discharge he then lived in the Federal District of Mexico City. He was accepted into the United States Air Force Cadets and received his pilot wings in the class of 58J. He received his B.S. from Eastern Michigan University in 1964. Jim was an aviator for Great Lakes Airmotive, Zantop Air Transport, Universal Air lines, Intermountain Aviation, Rosenbaum Aviation, Zantop International Airlines. For the last 25 years, Jim was employed at the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan until January 2005. Jim always loved flying, especially little airplanes. For him, the best way to spend any day was to hang out at a small airport and watch the traffic or just appreciate the sky, the winds, the clouds or the stars. Jim loved motorcycles, fishing, sailing, crossword puzzles and repairing anything broken. He loved life and all of its wonderful surprises. 

He is survived by his wife Barbara and his son Jason. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Lucille Ledbetter, and a sister Mary Elizabeth and a brother Charles, both young children at the time of their passing. 

He will be greatly missed by many friends and colleagues who will go on to tell many Ledbetter stories. He will be deeply, and always, missed by his wife Barbara and his son Jason. No words can describe their loss. 

Funeral service will be Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 11:00a.m. at the JANOWIAK FUNERAL HOME, GEER- LOGAN CHAPEL with Rev. Donald Viers of Community Free Will Baptist Church officiating. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Huron Valley Humane Society or The Meals on Wheels of Ypsilanti. Envelopes available at the funeral home where the family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.

Source: Ann Arbor News (MI) - October 31, 2005