John Louis Ledbetter
January 10, 1933 - April 25, 2026

John Louis Ledbetter, 93, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family.

John was born in Dallas, Texas, to John Robertson Ledbetter and Mattie Viola Steward Ledbetter in a small two-bedroom house located on Lover's Lane. At the age of nine, his family moved to a 25-acre farm in Coppell, Texas, so he could enjoy one of his greatest passions-horses.

At just 12 years old, while still attending school, John was voted into the Plasters Union and began working alongside his father. He graduated from Carrollton High School at the young age of 16 and began working for Dallas Power and Light Company as a draftsman. At 19, he moved to Fort Worth and started working for City Hall before transitioning into a Surveyor/Draftsman role with the Rock Island Railroad.

In 1953, John was drafted into the United States Army, where he proudly served as a Private First Class in the 246th Battery Field Artillery Guided Missile Battalion. He recieved a National Defense SVC metal before he was honorably discharged on December 29, 1954. He then returned to work with the Rock Island Railroad, eventually being promoted to Assistant Divisional Engineer and relocating to El Reno, Oklahoma.

In 1970, John began his long and distinguished career with the FAA Regional Office in Fort Worth as an Engineering Technician. His dedication and strong work ethic carried him through an incredible 47 years of service, earning many awards and accolades before retiring in 2017 at the age of 84.

August 12, 1988 was the special day John married the love of his life and they continued laughing daily and holding hands for 37 and half years.

John was also deeply devoted to his faith. He preached at various congregations for over 20 years and was a faithful and active member of North Beach Church of Christ since March of 1999. His love for the Lord and his commitment to sharing God's word were central to his life.

He attended the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Christian University. John had many hobbies and passions, including horses, cats, calligraphy, drafting, collecting fine writing pens, Bibles, and religious materials. He was known for his wisdom, discipline, faith, and storytelling. He was extremely talented in playing the piano, organ, guitar, accordion, trumpet, saxophone and clarinet.

John is preceded in death by both parents Mattie Viola Ledbetter and husband John and sister Mary Lou Thurman. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Sue Ledbetter; daughter Sheila Scott Ortiz; son, Douglas Scott and wife Kimberly; grandchildren, Gloria Baird and husband Dakota, Kaytlin Marshall, Jeremy Liles, Gabriel Scott, Chris Liles and wife Alex, Mary Nicole Ortiz, Grant Marshall, Anna Liles, Ezekiel Ortiz and Cali Liles. Great-grandchildren, Koti Baird, Nova Scott, Adalyn Liles and Ozzie Liles; niece Mary Linda Beall and husband Jeff and niece Joanne Sloan and husband Eddie along with a host of other loving family members and dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate John's life at Visitation on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Mount Olivet Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held Monday, May 4, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Mount Olivet Chapel, with burial to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

John's legacy of faith, service, storytelling and devotion to family will live on in all who knew and loved him.


MOUNT OLIVET CHAPEL
Greenwood Funeral Homes - Cremation
2301 N. Sylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76111
817-831-0511