Jean Gaston Ledford, 92, of Clements, MD died June 11, 2008 at his residence.

He was born in Murphy, NC on April 24, 1916. Jean was the son of the late Vance Talmadge Ledford and Verdie Katherine (Brittain) Ledford. He was proceeded in death by his brother Paul Ledford and a sister Katherine Sudderth.

When Jean finished high school he joined the civilian conservations corps and was sent to Gastonia, NC to work. He met his wife Helen Holmes Pearson and married her four years later on Christmas day 1940. He worked for the Bureau of Public Roads Administration. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he joined the Naval Reserves on December 30, 1941 and served until his discharge on September 27, 1945.

After leaving the Navy he took a job at General Motors as a mechanic. Later he went into business for himself starting his own excavating business. He was responsible for many real estate developments. Jean also built and ran S.E. Mobile Home Park in Camp Springs, MD.

Jean's hobbies were flying, shooting pool, going to the races with his grandson Mark. He continued to work hard until a stroke on April 5, 2000.

He is survived by his wife Helen of sixty-seven and a half years; his son Bruce Ledford and his wife Sirkka; three grandchildren, Mark, James and Michael Ledford; two nephews Paul Ledford and, Jerry Sudderth; and a niece Sandy Forrester.

Friends will be received on Monday, June 16, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Brinsfield Funeral Home with Rev. Dr Robert Degges, pastor of Bethany Christian Church, Fort Washington, MD officiating. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be Randy Guy, Irving Curtis, Roy Jewell, Dale Bittner and Ray Hoffman. Contributions may be made to Hospice House c/o Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.