Ted Ricketts, 84, of rural Montpelier, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 4, 2014.
Born in the family home that his grandparents built, he was the son of Lee and Clela (Dick) Ricketts.
Ted married Edith Spencer on Oct. 15, 1950, enjoying 54 years of marriage, staying many summers at Little Long Lake.
He is survived by his children, Connie (Bill) Brigle, Edon; Barbara Imm, Edgerton; David (Connie) Ricketts, Hamilton, Indiana; and Laura (Gary) Gearhart, Edon. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Scott (Jen) Brigle, Kyle (Tami) Brigle, Stephanie Brigle (Dustin Carr), Edon; Alan Imm, Edgerton; Austin (Lindsay) Imm, Ney; Ashlee Gearhart (Kayle Prince), Edon; and Alison Gearhart (Charlie Howard), Hamilton, Indiana. Always bringing a smile to his face were his great-grandchildren, Konnor and Karsyn Prince, Kendol and Cora Brigle, and Kenlee Brigle. Also surviving is his sister, Barbara Hug, brother-in-law, Mervin Towers, and sisters-in-law, Waneta (Joe) Wisman and Helen (Ron) Brown.
Ted was a 1947 graduate of Edon High School. Serving with the Army motor pool, he was a veteran of the Korean War. As a lifelong farmer on the Centennial family farm, he spent his life working the soil and finding many Indian arrowheads while farming. He also worked for the ASC office in Bryan in the measurement service, and he was a Northwest Township trustee for many years.
Well known as an avid outdoorsman, Ted enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping, and he was a certified trapper instructor. A member of the Northwest Grange, he was also a charter member and on the committee that helped design and build the Coon Hunters Lodge, Montpelier. He had served as a 4-H advisor and was on the planning committee for the Leanne football field at Edon High School. Ted’s passion was his large garden that yielded outstanding produce, along with hunting mushrooms.
Ted was also a daily attendee at the Edon Senior Center, where he had many good friends and had a good time playing cards.
Preceding him in death were his loving wife, Edith, son-in-law, Mark Imm, sisters, Laurene Towers and Laurabelle Radabaugh, and his parents.
Memorials may be made to the Edon Senior Center or Williams County Coon Hunters. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.