Wilson Marion Ledford, 84, of Milwaukee Oregon, formerly of Franklin, NC, entered into rest on Thursday, December 22, 2005.
He was born on March 13, 1921, to the late Marion Raleigh Ledford and Franchie Sanders Ledford of Macon County. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Calvin Ledford and Ellis Ledford.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Elizabeth Johnson Ledford; two sons Hugh Wilson Ledford of Covina, CA, and Brent Raleigh Ledford of Redding, CA; one daughter, Theresa Marlene Malish of Portland, OR; one brother, Alvin Lewis Ledford and five sisters, Marie Ramey, Barbara McConnell, Yvonne Angel, Thelma Waldroop, and Josephine (Tootsie) DeHart; and nine grandchildren.
Wilson attended Franklin High School and graduated in 1939. His first job was as a clerk for the Farm Security Administration. He then went into the Civilian Conservation Corps as an assistant educational advisor, eventually becoming the camp's First Sergeant before leaving and enlisting in the armed forces.
Wilson joined the Army Air Corps in November of 1941, and initially became an aircraft mechanic. In August of 1943, he was assigned to Officer Candidate School in Miami, FL, where he graduated on December 11, 1943 as a 2nd Lieutenant, as an Air Corps officer. Wilson served in a number of capacities such as: Aircraft Engineering Officer, Supply Officer, Base Intelligence and Provost Marshal, and Aircraft Maintenance Liaison Officer. He was assigned to many different locations during and after the war: Ontario and San Bernardino, CA, Panama, and Kwajalian Islands in the South Pacific. Upon his discharge in 1949, Wilson enrolled in the Pacific Coast School of Law and earned a Juris Doctor of Law degree in 1952. He had several jobs during this period including several sales positions, supply clerk for Flying Tigers Air, and an Electronic Lab Technician in the guided missile program at Douglas Aviation.
In June of 1953 he joined the Los Angeles County Flood Control District as a real property agent where he supervised the appraising and acquisition of land for the placement of flood control channels. While serving in that capacity he was also active in the L.A. County Employee Association, where he served as President in 1963.
During this period, Wilson was also very active in the Air Force Reserves, assigned to the 452nd Troop Carrier Wing stationed at March Air Force Base, San Bernardino, CA. He served in positions, eventually the position of Squadron Commander. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1972.
Wilson quickly tired of retirement and went back to work in 1978, where he became a Real Estate Consultant for the City of San Diego. In 1980 he obtained the position of Assistant Property Agent and retired from that position in 1987. He then moved to Portland, OR, where he spent the rest of his life.
A Memorial Service will be held on January 8, 2006 at 3 p.m. at the Prentiss Church of God. Visitation will be 2:00-3:00 p.m. before the service. Rev. Don Moffitt will officiate. Full Military Honors will be conducted by VFW Post 7339 and American Legion Post 108.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

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