William "Bill" Walter Ladyman

William Walter (Bill) Ladyman, 93, passed away December 19, 2020, at Hendrick Hospice Care in Abilene. Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, at Senterfitt Cemetery in Lometa, followed by a visitation at the Lometa Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lometa Church of Christ or Cherokee Home in Bill's name. Mr. Ladyman was born November 12, 1927, in Brownwood, Texas to W.L. Ladyman and Lillie Belle Ladyman. After graduating from Brownwood High School he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the occupation forces in Japan. After being honorably discharged from the army, Mr. Ladyman enrolled in Abilene Christian College, where he met Mary Florence Kirby. Bill married Flo on August 30, 1949. Mr. Ladyman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from ACC in 1950 and the couple moved to Sweetwater in 1951. They lived in Sweetwater until 1953 when they moved to Arlington. In 1991 they moved to their ranch near Lometa where he and Flo continued their cattle operation. For most of his career, Bill Ladyman worked as a chemist in the aerospace/defense industry. His specialty was as a materials expert and he not only worked on classified projects for the military, he also worked on projects for NASA, including an instrument package that flew to the moon on Apollo 11, and the astronaut's helmets that flew on Apollo 12 through Apollo 17. When he retired in 1991, Mr. Ladyman not only began ranching on a full-time basis, he became an active volunteer. He was a member of the Lometa Lions Club and was influential in establishing a city park for Lometa with support from the Lower Colorado River Authority. Bill was an active board member for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas and served as its Chairman. Additionally, he was involved with the Lampasas Historical Commission and sang with the Mills Tones, a barbershop chorus in Goldthwaite. A lifelong Christian, Bill served as a deacon and then an elder of the Abram Street Church of Christ (later the Randol Mill Church of Christ and the North Davis Church of Christ). He was also an elder for the Lometa Church of Christ. He taught Bible classes and was the regular song leader in whatever church he was a member of. He was passionate in his love for Jesus and his life was a reflection of his faith. Mr. Ladyman was preceded in death by Flo, his wife of sixty-six years. Survivors include his sons, William Timothy Ladyman and wife, Lori of Abilene, Walter Andrew Ladyman and wife, Cynthia of Abilene; daughter, Patty Lynn McRight, and husband, Monty of Lometa; 11 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.