Richard L. Ledbetter

Richard L. Ledbetter was born January 11, 1955 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was the son of Richard Forrest Ledbetter and Wilma Maxwell Ledbetter. Richard was raised in Stillwater and attended school there, receiving his education at Stillwater High School. He participated in U. S. Army, ROTC and attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood.

Upon completion of his schooling, Richard accepted employment with Sonic Drive-In in Stillwater and was employed there for nearly four years. He was married to Nancy Jean Butler in Stillwater on July 30, 1977. After their marriage the couple moved to Perkins when Richard began working for the Dr Pepper Company. Within the next year after the birth of their daughter, Mandy, they moved to Arlington, Texas. The couple had five children, Scott, Marandia, Rhonda, Christopher and Lisa.

In 1978, Richard began a career working for the City of Arlington in the public utility department. His job over the next twenty-four years included repairing and reading meters as a utility man for the Water Utility Department of Arlington. Richard retired earlier this year on June 21, 2002.

Richard was an avid collector of country music and enjoyed playing the guitar. He has an extensive collection of eight track tapes and records including a significant number of movies. He also was a gun collector and enjoyed hunting and fishing. His favorite hobby, however, was spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Richard passed away while preparing to attend his father's funeral on Friday, September 20, 2002 in Cleveland, Oklahoma at the age of forty-seven years, eight months and nine days. In addition to his father, Richard was preceded in death by a son, Scott Allen Ledbetter.

He is Survived by his wife, Nancy Jean Ledbetter, of the home; four children, Marandia Ledbetter, Rhonda and her husband, Raymond Smith, Christopher Ledbetter, and Lisa Ledbetter, all of Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren, one brother, Forrest (Bud) Ledbetter, Cleveland, Oklahoma; five sisters, Linda Ledbetter, Cleveland, Oklahoma, RaDonna Kuekelhan, Cleveland, Oklahoma, Pam Williams, Whitney, Texas, Cathy O'Mara, Independence, Kansas and Sandra Ledbetter, Irving, Texas; Mother, Virginia Ledbetter, Cleveland, Oklahoma; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services for both Richard L Ledbetter and his father, Richard F. Ledbetter will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 24, 2002 at the Western Heights Baptist Church in Cleveland, Oklahoma with Rev. David Head officiating. The burials will be held at the Osage Cemetery in Cleveland under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

''Visit and online obituary and guestbook for Richard L. Ledbetter at www.chapman-black.com.''