Jesse Ingram Ledbetter

Jesse Ingram Ledbetter, 92, of Arden, passed away Thursday, November 5, 2015. A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of the late Richard J. and Etta Maria Ingram Ledbetter. The youngest of eight children, he was also preceded in death by his siblings, Zaida Ledbetter, Norma Dillingham, Grady Ledbetter, William Ledbetter, Anne Young, Gladys Todd, and Z.T. Ledbetter. Mr. Ledbetter grew up at Ledbetter Dairy Farm in Avery's Creek, which was located on Ledbetter Road. He was a graduate of Valley Springs School and went on to attend Brevard College. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, spent time on active duty, then later returned to attend and graduate from the University of Maryland. During WWII, he served active duty as a B-24 bomber pilot, having been a part of 51 bombing missions with the 485th Bomber Group stationed in Venosa, Italy. Among other awards, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross medal. Jesse retired from the US Air Force after 24 years of dedicated service to our country. Following his time in the military, he and Marie returned to Buncombe County, where he started his career in real estate. He became politically active, serving 12 years as a county commissioner, then 4 years as a North Carolina State Senator. He was a longtime member of the Civitan Club, as well as MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) and CIBO (Council of Independent Business Owners). He was president of the Asheville Board of Realtors and a member of the UNC-Asheville Board of Trustees. He and Marie have been long-time members of Central United Methodist Church. He and his wife Marie, were the recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2014 from the State of North Carolina Governor. He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Marie Ensley Ledbetter; two daughters, Patricia Haley and her husband, Thomas and Catherine Padgett and her husband, Marcus; four grandchildren, David (Jill), Ingram (Leanne), Katie (Cullen), and Meredith (Sidney); four great-grandchildren, Thorn, Cash, Eleanor and Jennings, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral service with military honors was held on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 in the Chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian and a private interment followed at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. David Haley, Jill Haley, Ingram Haley, Leanne Murphy, Meredith Dodson, Sidney Dodson, Katie Padgett Walsh, Cullen Padgett Walsh, Harley T. Young, Robert D. Ledbetter, Jeffrey T. Ledbetter and AJ Vannice served as honorary pallbearers. The family would like to thank Christy Matlick and Dr. Rob Blackburn from Central United Methodist Church for officiating the service and the Shaw Air Force Base Honor Guard for providing full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family graciously asks that donations be made to either Brevard College, 1 Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC 28712 or to the Employee Appreciation Fund of Heather Glen at Ardenwoods, 103 Appalachian Boulevard, Arden, NC 28704.