John C. Ledgerwood
SPRINGFIELD — John C. Ledgerwood, a World War II veteran of the Navy and former MFA Oil Co. vice president, was a man whose work was his life.
“To his end he dreamed about it,” his daughter Janice Griter said. “It was everything to him.”
Mr. Ledgerwood died at his home in Springfield on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. He was 86.
He was born Jan. 10, 1924, in Birch Tree.
Mr. Ledgerwood married his wife, Marie, on July 30, 1945. The couple celebrated their 65th anniversary in July.
Before finding the work that he loved, Mr. Ledgerwood was enlisted in the Navy during World War II.
Later Mr. Ledgerwood moved to Washington state, where he worked as a lumberjack for a few years. He then returned to Missouri where he was offered a job as a truck driver with MFA Oil Co.
Griter said one of her fondest memories of her father was when she was able to go to work with him in the truck.
Sometimes he would bring home creatures, such as a soft-shelled turtle, which she had never seen before, Griter said.
As Mr. Ledgerwood continued working for the Columbia company he gradually moved up to district salesman and eventually to vice president.
Griter said her father didn’t have many hobbies outside of his work.
“But he was always watching baseball,” Griter said. “Big Cardinals fan.”
He is survived by his wife Marie (Rardin) Ledgerwood of Springfield; a son Harry J. Ledgerwood and his wife, Dorine, of Marshfield; a daughter Janice Griter and husband, Bob, of Springfield; a brother Dow Ledgerwood; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; and numerous relatives and friends.
Four brothers, Clay, William, Lawrence, Henry, Millard Ledgerwood; two sisters Ruby Pierce and Edith Layman; and a son Mark Ledgerwood died earlier.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at Greenlawn Funeral Home South, 441 W. Battlefield, Springfield.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Tributes can be posted online at memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
