Theron Gaston Ladner

Col. Theron Gaston Ladner passed away on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at his home in Ethel after a determined battle against brain cancer. He is survived by his wife, Amelia Marie Haley Ladner; daughter, Bridget O'Bannion and husband, Drake; and son, John Watson, all of Lumberton, Texas. Also survived by his stepdaughter, Mary Jon Turner, of Austin, Texas; grandsons, Todd Cross, of Anahuac, Texas, Taylor Watson, of Orange, Texas, and Wesley Watson, serving in the U.S. Navy; granddaughter, Michele Cross, of Beaumont, Texas; and stepgranddaughter, Jessica Turner Desdunes, of Austin; great-grandsons, Cade and Noah Watson; and granddaughters, Taylor and McKenna, both of Orange, Gracie Cross, of Anahuac, and Carlissa Desdunes, of Austin. Preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Ladner; brother, Elton Ladner; and stepson, Brad Turner. Col. Ladner was born in Poplarville, Miss. He graduated from Poplarville High School, where he was active in ROTC. He joined the Army and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He received a battlefield commission and had various assignments, including battery commander, headquarters battery, air defense artillery group, battery commander, Nike-Hercules, guided missile unit, operations officer, Nike-Hercules missile battalion, deputy chief, Command Information Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe and senior emergency actions officer, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon. He was a graduate of the University of Omaha in Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in education. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army, he came to Baton Rouge to attend LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1970. After graduation, he was director of the Army Junior ROTC program with high schools in East Baton Rouge Parish. He later served as executive director of the Business Climate Division of the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, manager of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, director of customer relations for Toomer Electrical Co. and was instrumental in the forming of the Greater Baton Rouge Industrial Managers Association, having served for 23 years. He was also the executive director of the Lake Charles Southwest, Louisiana office. He took the initiative and met with other areas along the gulf coast developing the Contractor Safety Orientation Program. During his tenure the Contractor Safety Awards Program came to be which is now an annual event. Theron was a member of the Business Round Table and made several presentations at Round Table conferences. Because of Theron Ladner and his vision Greater Baton Rouge Industrial Managers Association became highly recognized and respected around the United States and he was always being called upon to assist in other areas getting them started and helping to make them a success. Theron Ladner was a leader in the cooperative endeavors between the area industrial plant managers and the construction industry. The funding and support of the nationally recognized industrial construction craft training and safety programs conducted by the Associated Builders and Contractors were a result of the leadership of Mr. Ladner. He served as chairman of the state Job Training Coordinating Council having been appointed by Gov. Dave Treen. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Young Men's Christian Association Board of Directors and Vocational-Technical Educational Advisory Board, East Baton Rouge Parish. He was a longtime member of First Christian Church and attended Clinton United Methodist Church, where he shared his love of the Old Testament by teaching for many years. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Memorial service at First Christian Church on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. His body has been donated to the LSU School of Medicine for brain cancer research. The family would like to thank our church families in Clinton and Baton Rouge, our wonderful neighbors who were there any time, day or night, especially Brit and Francine D'Amico and Richard Scott, Cathy, Bonnie and Denise and entire staff of Hospice of Baton Rouge, special friend and physician Dr. Luke Corsten, Dr. Patrick Gahan and Dr. Robert Shields and Lynn of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, First Christian Church or the charity of your choice.