Elizabeth Ledbetter

Dr Elizabeth K Ledbetter, Capt MC, USN (Ret) passed away Monday November 18, 2019 after a long illness. Born in Summerville, South Carolina, she spent her early years in the family home in Charleston, South Carolina. Her father was an Army officer and in late 1945, she and her mother joined him as he served in the occupation forces in Japan. Returning to the United States, she lived on Army bases until the family returned to Charleston in 1950 and her father established a law practice in civilian life. A gifted student she loved to study and attend school in Charleston. She attended Lower Merion High School, later graduating from Savannah High School in Georgia. She had moved to Georgia after marrying Thomas Ledbetter in 1957. Raising two small children; she began studying Pre-Med at the University of Georgia in Athens in 1964. She graduated from UGA in 1968 and was accepted into the Medical College of Georgia from where she was graduated as a medical doctor in 1972. She practiced medicine in Augusta, Georgia until 1975 when she joined the Navy and was accepted into flight training to become only the 3rd female flight surgeon in the US Navy. Graduating from the Naval AeroSpace Medical training program in Pensacola, Florida in 1976, she reported for duty as the flight surgeon at the naval Air Facility, Misawa, Japan, serving with P-3 ORION Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft. Returning to Japan almost 30 years after she left as a child. After her tour in Japan, she was transferred to Naval Air Station North Island, in San Diego, where she was assigned to a CH-46 Helicopter Squadron. She was promoted to Lieutenant Commander during this tour. In 1981, she received orders to serve as the Senior medical officer at Naval Air Station, Cubi Point in the Philippines. She served in the Philippines for 5 years, flying with several types of aircraft and traveling extensively in Asia and the Indian Ocean.

She was promoted to Commander in 1984 and in 1985, she returned to the United States for service at Naval Air Station Miramar as the Senior Medical Officer for the F-14 TOMCAT fighter aircraft and E2-C HAWKEYE Airborne Early Warning aircraft stationed there. She spent several years at this duty station and was advanced to the grade of Captain while there. In 1991, as she transitioned from flying billets, she became the Preventive Medicine Department Head for the San Diego region and continued in this capacity until her retirement in January 2001. In retirement she made her home in Ramona, California and worked in the public health sector for San Diego County. In 2009 she moved to Ohio to be closer to her daughter. She remained here until her passing.

She is survived by her children: Logan Scott Ledbetter - Augusta, Georgia; Thomas Hunter Ledbetter - Key West, Florida; William Bennett Ledbetter - San Diego, California; Lily Anne Withrow - Monroe, Ohio; Carlo Ledbetter - San Diego, California; Woody Ledbetter - San Diego, California. Her Grandchildren: Nathan Ian Ledbetter - San Diego, California; Logan Laird Ledbetter - Augusta, Georgia; Ashley Elizabeth Withrow - Monroe, Ohio; Leah Anne Withrow - Monroe, Ohio; Mathew Hunter Withrow - Monroe, Ohio; Bradley William Withrow - Monroe, Ohio. Her Great Grandchildren: Hazel Stone Ledbetter; Tripp Rose Ledbetter.
She was married to Thomas V. Ledbetter from 1957 to 1975, the marriage ended in divorce.

Funeral service will be held at St. Anne Episcopal Church, 6461 Tylersville Rd, West Chester Twp., OH 45069, on Friday, November 22, at 5 PM.