Mr. Ladner was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He was a 1952 graduate of McGill Institute where he was a top pitcher for the baseball team. He was drafted by the Farm Team for the Boston Red Sox, was a veteran of the U. S. Navy having served in the Korean War where he saw combat in the Suez Canal. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He was employed by the Mobile Gas Company, the Mobile Police Department, and the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Joseph Ladner, Sr. and Beulah Burch Ladner; and one granddaughter, Katherine Ladner. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Rose Vella Ladner; three sons, Johnny Ladner, Alan Ladner, and Randy Ladner; two grandchildren, Sahra (Josh) Cooley and Caleb Ladner; and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Graveside services with Military Honors will take place at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Visitation Monastery, 2300 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36607.
