Darrell Travis Ledbetter

Celebration of Life services for Darrell Travis Ledbetter, 86 of Branson, will be Monday, July 29, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. in the Branson Bible Church, Branson, MO with Dr. Richard Toliver and Rev. Jeff Griffis officiating and burial following in Blue Eye Cemetery.  Visitation will be Sunday afternoon, July 28 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at Branson Bible Church.  Arrangements are under the direction of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory, Branson. 

Darrell Travis Ledbetter was born on March 24, 1933 in Lutie, Missouri to Hobert H. & Edna (Reich) Ledbetter.  Edna passed away when Darrell was 18 months old.  His father remarried and Darrrell was raised by his father and step-mother, Maxine Hogan Ledbetter who operated the Ledbetter General Store in Theodosia.  Darrell attended the one-room school of Lutie and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1950.  He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Education, BSE degree from Southwest Missouri State College (now MSU) in Springfield.  After graduation, he taught in a one-room school in Ozark County, the “barefoot” school and then at Blue Eye, MO schools.  While attending SMS, he met, Virginia Ruth Pinkley and they were married on December 21, 1952 in the Old Lampe Church in Lampe, MO.  The following May of 1953 took Darrell to Germany where he was stationed and proudly served his country in the United States Army.  After returning from the service he taught at Reeds Spring schools.  He then turned his career path to the insurance field where he worked for Shelter Insurance for 33 years.  Upon retiring, his business interests included development of Summerwood Estates and Roark Hills Estates alongside his children.  He was also on the first Planning and Zoning Board for the city of Branson.  Also, alongside Virginia he provided an extension of a trail system along Roark Creek in memory of his daughter Pam who passed in 2008.  He also enjoyed working at the 248 Golf Practice Facility which he developed with his son in 2002.  Darrell also had a farm that he and Virginia purchased in the 1960s where he raised beef cattle.  He enjoyed gardening, traveling and mechanical work and had traveled the entire North America.  His favorite thing was to get in the car and drive and drive.

Darrell was a member of the Branson Bible Church for 56 years and a servant of Christ.  He was an adult Sunday School teacher and an Elder and Deacon for 42 years.  He loved the Lord, family and church.

Darrell entered into rest on July 23, 2019 at Cox Medical Center in Branson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hobert H. Ledbetter, Edna R. Ledbetter; step-mother, Maxine Hogan Ledbetter; his brother Dwight Ledbetter; daughter Pamela Ledbetter Wegis and grandson Travis Bowers.

Darrell is survived by his wife of 66 years, Virginia Ledbetter; his son, Benjamin Travis Ledbetter and daughter Mary Ellen Bruffett and husband Myron all of Branson; grandsons, James A. and Wendi Bowers, Michael B. Ledbetter, Mark S. Ledbetter and Matt R. Bruffett; granddaughters, Ellen E. and Myers Johnson, Annie M. and Nathan Stallings and Addyson R. Bruffett; four great grandchildren, Ethan, Emmit and Ezrah Johnson and Magnolia Sky Stallings; along with three sisters, Lena Hobbs of Dallas, TX, Joyce Hampton of Springfield, MO, Sue and Stan Baber of Springfield and sister-in-law Erlene Ledbetter of Springfield along with a host of nieces and nephews.

In Darrell’s memory, donations may be made to Branson Bible Church, 533 Branson Landing Boulevard, Branson, MO  65616.

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