Hunter Dillard Ledbetter

He was born in Cherry Lake, FL on June 25, 1928 and graduated from Kissimmee High School in 1947. He attended college at TCU and the Univ. of Tampa. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950-52, before marrying the late Finabelle Cooper on April 26, 1953.

“Led” then went to work in 1953 for L.M. Berry and Co. in Tampa, FL and after stops in Portland OR and Sacramento CA, he returned east and retired in Dayton, OH 37 years later as a vice president. His independent telephone company customers often became life-long friends and dozens flew in from across the country to attend his retirement party in 1990. He subsequently moved to Golden Eagle in Tallahassee. FL where he lived the next 23 years of his life.

Dillard is survived by his two sons, John N.C. Ledbetter (Cindy) of Destin FL and Hunter Lee Ledbetter (Rhonda) of Sparta TN; grandchildren, Eric, Lauren, Alysia, Maddie (Tommy Webster), Alex and Frank, his brothers-in-law John Nathan Cooper and Earl Snyder and numerous nieces and nephews. The youngest of five children and five half siblings, he was predeceased by all.

Dillard will be remembered for his selfless loving care of his Wife of 60 years as she battled Alzheimer’s, his sharply honed sense of humor, his love of people, conversation, gin rummy and his compassion for all living things.

Dillard’s remains will be buried next to his Wife at Highland Cemetery in Sparta, TN, on November 22, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. A brief graveside service will be followed by an informal gathering at Cheddar’s 1375 Interstate Drive, Cookeville, TN., for lunch and to exchange stories about this remarkable man.