LeRoy ~ Richard M. “Dick” Ladd, age 91, of Summit Street, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning (Sept. 27, 2015) with his family at his side at the Batavia VA Medical Center.

Mr. Ladd was born August 2, 1924 in Oswego, N.Y., a son of the late Clayton and Eloise Moore Ladd. He served in the 101st Airborne, 502nd PIR and parachuted into Normandy on D-Day in 1944, participated in Operation Market Garden and received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in defense of Bastogne. Upon completing his military duty, he moved to Batavia and worked at the LeRoy Plow Company, before beginning employment as a purchasing agent at Lapp Insulator for 22 years. He went on to serve as Clerk of the Genesee County Legislature and ended his career as the Director of Housing for the City of Batavia.

Mr. Ladd served two terms as a LeRoy village trustee prior to becoming Mayor. He was a co-founder and president of LeRoy Development. He was a Master Mason in the Olive Branch lodge #39 of Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and a member of the LeRoy United Methodist Church for over 50 years.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Brock Laughlin, whom he married in Glasgow, Scotland in 1945. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on September 14th. He is also survived by his children, Kent (Lori) Ladd of Summerville, SC, Brock (Kerry) Ladd of Phoenix, AZ and Leslie (Terry) Krajewski of Alexander, NY; grandchildren, Caroline (Andrew) Costa, Rebecca (Stephen) Saeva, Jonathan (Kathrine) Ladd and Owen Ladd; great-grandchildren, Elijah Ladd, Christopher Costa and Gabrielle Saeva; sister-in-law, Lynette “Scotty” (David) Graham of LeRoy, along with nieces, nephews and many dear friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Stuart R. Ladd.

Services and interment with military honors will be private in Machpelah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor’s choice.

“This is such a loss. My husband and I got to meet Richard Ladd about a year ago. He knew my father and last saw him the day before the jump into Holland in September 1944. The next time they met was June 1964 at a 101st Airborne reunion. Richard said he spotted Dad right away across the room. When they shook hands, it was as though they were transported back in time…”
~ Jenny La Sala

SERVICE PHOTOS BY RICK RILEY

– See more at: http://www.falconefuneralhome.com/…/Richard_…/obituary.html…

‪#‎Airborne‬ ‪#‎WWII‬ ‪#‎Tributes‬ ‪#‎RememberThem‬ ‪#‎Army‬ ‪#‎Veterans‬