Fritz W. Ledford

ATHOL- Fritz W. Ledford, 98, of Wellington Street, died late Monday evening, February 24, 2025 at Life Care of Leominster.

Born in Ducktown, Tennessee on November 13, 1926, he was the son of the late Elmer I. and Edith M. (Melhorn) Ledford.

Fritz enlisted in United States Navy on August 1, 1944 and was proud to serve on the USS Boxer on her maiden voyage to sea during World War Two. He was honorably discharged on April 2, 1946.

He was employed by General Electric for many years before retiring.

A faithful servant of the Lord who held firmly in his beliefs his entire life, his passion was sharing his beliefs with others and he took great fulfillment in working in the Bus Ministries of the churches he attended to help others to find their faith.

Fritz loved astronomy and was a proud member of the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston. One of his proudest achievements was a high powered telescope that he engineered from the ground up from design to creation.

He also loved everything about violins and was a skilled violin Luthier, having created and restored several violins. Another love was poetry, especially about things and people he held close to his heart, and left the world a collection of beautiful poems.

Fritz was the caretaker of a small homestead farm for much of his life where he lovingly cared for many gardens, animals and livestock. He was a great lover of animals.

Survivors include his children, Marcus Daniel Ledford and his wife Lorraine, David Walter Ledford, Gerald Wayne Ledford and his wife Luanne, Sharon Marie Arsenault and her husband Robert, several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, a brother Dennis Ledford and a brother John Ledford.

Besides his parents, Fritz was predeceased by his wife of 49 years and mother of his children, Florence, a second wife, Penny, who offered comfort and companionship in his later years, a beloved son, Steven Douglas Ledford, a daughter in law whom he loved like his own daughter, Pamela (Perry) Ledford, a brother, Frank Ledford, and a sister, Mildred Ledford.

Fritz will be interred at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA.

Donations in Fritz’s memory can be made to the MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02130.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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