Richard Ledwell Obituary

Richard L. Ledwell, I January 12, 1941- April 7, 2024

On April 7, 2024, Richard L. Ledwell, I, passed away with his son, Richard (Rick) L. Ledwell, II and his wife Tracy, by his side. He had awakened before dawn and left us shortly thereafter, his spirit taking wing as gently as he had lived.

Richard was born January 12, 1941, in Johnson City, Tennessee, one of a family of four brothers and two sisters, to Horace Ledwell, Sr. and Josephine Light Ledwell. During his lifetime, Richard had many accomplishments. As a young man in East Tennessee, his spirit of adventure took him first to Atlanta with his brother Ron, where they both found jobs, and then into the United States Navy which Richard and Ron joined together. Following his military service, Richard enrolled in East Tennessee State University to pursue an engineering degree, and he retired from the Engineering Department at Embarq after thirty-three years of service. A man with a precise and detail-oriented mind, he was an electronics wizard and could master anything. Richard also enjoyed boating, water skiing, and boxing.

Richard's greatest accomplishment occurred in 1970 when he met Evelyn L. McReynolds and married her. Evelyn was the love of Richard's life. His greatest joy was in bringing her happiness, and he lovingly cared for her when she fell ill before her death in 2017.

Richard was a long-time resident of Bristol, Tennessee, and after Evelyn's passing, he moved to Northlake, Texas, to be with Ricky and Tracy, who gave him so much joy, and with his granddogs, Chloe and Frankie.

Richard attended Valley Pike Presbyterian Church while in Bristol, and he enjoyed attending services in Northlake.

Richard was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Horace "Junior" Ledwell and Franklin Ledwell, and his sisters Rosemary Metts and Margie Grindstaff. Richard dearly loved all his siblings, and his brother Junior held a special place in his heart. Richard is survived by his beloved son Ricky and Ricky's wife Tracy, whom Richard loved as a daughter; his brother Ron Ledwell and wife Sandy; special nieces Bonnie Waller and Kathryn Murray; and Evelyn's sisters Shirley Ketron, Sandy Kieffer and husband John, and Anne Garrett and husband Jimmy.

Ricky and Tracy give heartfelt thanks to special caregiver Suzie Tapfuma, who gave Richard much loving care and attention.

Richard had an enormous capacity for loving people, and if you were so blessed as to be part of his family or to become his friend, then you were dearly loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to Apollo Support & Rescue, 1170 Dove Hill Rd., Justin, Texas 76247, apollosupportandrescue.org, a no-kill animal shelter that Richard supported, or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611, pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

The funeral service will be held at 6:00 p.m., Friday, April 12, 2024, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with longtime family friend Pastor Chad Blevins officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. prior to the service. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol, Tennessee.

Arrangements have been made with Weaver Funeral Home and Cremation Services.