John E. Ladden

JOHN E. LADDEN, 64, died at 4:55 p.m. May 29, 2005, at Shawnee Manor Nursing Home. He was born July 27, 1940, in Lima to James C. and Lillian T. Boudrie Ladden, who preceded him in death. On June 14, 1968, at St. Rose Catholic Church, he married Peggy Lou Rode, who died Jan. 6, 1996. Mr. Ladden retired in 1994 as a psychiatric attendant at the Oakwood Forensic Center. He was a member of St. Gerard Catholic Church, where he served as a Eucharistic minister and usher. He attended St. Charles Catholic Church. He was a member of the Catholic War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275, American Legion Post 96, the Vietnam Veterans, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Boy Scouts of America, where he had been a Scout leader. He was a member of a bowling league at Northland Lanes for several years. He was a 1959 graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School and received his associate degree business in 1978 from Northwestern College. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, serving from Nov. 2, 1961, to April 4, 1973, and was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat Medical Badge. He played the clarinet and loved music and animals. Survivors include a daughter, Genevieve (David Dunlap) Ladden of Lima; a son, Leland (Lorinda) Ladden of Pandora; three brothers, James (Karen Campbell) Ladden of Lima, Phillip (Jeanie Silverstein) Ladden of Phoenix and Thomas (Barbara) Ladden of Lima; a sister, Johanna (James) Ribley of Florence, S.C.; and nine grandchildren, Stephanie Rumbaugh of Lima, Lindsay Ladden, Lucis Ladden, Lance Ladden, Logan Ladden and Levi Ladden, all of Pandora, and Devon Dunlap, Gavin Dunlap and Avery Dunlap, all of Lima. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Gerard Catholic Church. Father George Blasick will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 1275. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, where a parish wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Gerard Catholic Church, 240 W. Robb Ave., Lima, OH 45801; or Shawnee Manor Alzheimer's Unit, 2535 Fort Amanda Road, Lima, OH 45804. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.