CHARLES LEDBETTER

Ledbetter, Charles "Charlie" Curtis,

77, passed away on Thursday, September 27 at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Charlie was born at The Cottage Hospital at 600 North Spadra Blvd. (now Harbor Blvd.) in Fullerton, CA on August 28, 1935 to Murrell and Ruth Ledbetter. Except for a few brief moves to Murrell and Ruth's home state of Arkansas, Charlie attended Fullerton schools and graduated from Fullerton Union High School - at which he excelled as first team all CIF shortstop and where he met his first wife, Shirley Pharris.

Charlie earned both his undergraduate and masters' degrees at California State University, Long Beach. His first professional job was as teacher and assistant football coach at Norwalk High School. Charles became the first principal of Cerritos High

School when it opened in 1973 and eventually retired as Assistant Superintendent for ABC Unified School District. In retirement, Charlie became Bookkeeper and Marshall at the La Mirada Golf Course, where he was able to spend many hours playing his beloved sport amongst friends who shared his passion.

He also spent much of his retirement traveling with his second wife, Lyn Morgan Ledbetter, caring for his parents Murrell and Ruth, and enjoying visits with his children, Scott and Lisa, stepson Stuart, and seven grandchildren. His most recent happiness was in witnessing one grandson, Patrick, graduate from college and become an airline pilot, two others, Cole and Sara, enter college, and his youngest grandchild, Sinjin, gracefully enter sixth grade. He was also very happy to hear of his stepson's growing family in Washington.

Charles is preceded in death by parents Murrell and Ruth Ledbetter and wife Lyn Morgan Ledbetter. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Rhatigan and husband, Marc of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son, Scott Ledbetter and wife, Sylvia Sepulveda of Encinitas, CA; stepson, Stuart Morgan and wife Danica of Gig Harbor, WA; seven grandchildren, Patrick Rhatigan, Cole Rhatigan, Sara Ledbetter, Sinjin Ledbetter, Sierra Morgan, Grace Morgan, and Samuel Morgan; and his beloved caretaker, Keti Taulanga and husband Leo.

Viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m. at McAulay and Wallace Funeral Home, 902 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton California 92832. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens in Brea.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Memorial Foundation, PO Box 4138, Fullerton, CA 92834. McAulay & Wallace Mortuary