Harvey Ladd

Harvey was born in Chicago on April 15th, 1920 to Lillian & Max Ladd. He was one of 4 children, Leonard, Robert, and Carol, who are deceased.

He graduated from Amundsen High School, and attended Northwestern University. He had a good taste of the textile industry, having worked for his Uncle Jack distributing fabric samples to the sewing table trade during high school vacations. He then worked for Braniff Airways, and did well, and was promoted to Agent in Charge, travelling up and down the line, helping out if any operating agents were sick or joined the military, as World War 2 started.

He began to be questioned as to why an able bodied man as he was, had not joined the service. He had a presidential deferment as his job was necessary for the civilian population, but it really bothered him, not being in the service. One of the Braniff pilots held a commission in the Navy, and he told Harvey he could take leave from Braniff, and be assigned to the Naval Air Transport Service. He said that if Harvey was interested, he would recommend him and give him a letter to headquarters. He took his advice and enlisted in the Naval Air Transport Service, and after Boot Camp was assigned to detached duty at Mines Field (where Douglas Corporation made the DC Aircraft, and today is the Los Angeles Municipal Airport).

After the war ended he settled in Dallas where he represented many textile mills providing fabrics to the ready-to-wear manufacturers.

He served as a volunteer with the Dallas Police Reserves for 33 years.

In 1965 he married the former Rila Boren and they have been married for 59 years, saying that those years were the happiest years of his life.

He loved convertible cars and had many throughout his life.

He and Rila travelled the world, and enjoyed the adventures of seeing new places and meeting lots of interesting people, some of whom remained friends, and exchanged many visits with new friends from Wales, Great Britain.

His mantra has always been Integrity and Humor – if you can be a straight arrow and have a lot of laughs, you will have a good life.

He is survived by his wife Rila, and his 3 children from a previous marriage – Susan Heer, Laurie Evans and Peter Ladd, and by 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

A graveside service for Harvey will be held Friday, February 9, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Hillcrest Memorial Park in the Garden of Trees Section, 7405 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75225.