In Loving
Memory

Bernard Dollins Ladd, Jr.

Apr 06, 2016

Bernard Dollins “B.D.” Ladd, Jr., 83, died on June 4, 2016. He is survived by four daughters, Deborah Jo Ladd of Louisa, Lisa Ladd Labesky and her husband, Andrew of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Cynthia Page Cobbs and her husband, James Ludwig of Louisa and Kathryn Lynn Knauer of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren, Nick Knauer and his wife, Kaitlin of Würzburg, Germany; Travis Ludwig of Chicago; Jordan Ludwig of San Francisco; Schuyler Knauer of Orlando; Dana and Valerie Ludwig and Rachel and Allison Harvey, all of Louisa; and Owen Labesky of Cape Elizabeth. He was predeceased by his wife, Laura Hamner Ladd. B.D. was a native of Mineral and a member of Louisa County High School’s Class of 1951. He joined the Virginia National Guard, “The Louisa Howitzers” 442nd Field Artillery Battalion “A” Battery in 1948 at age 16; at 18 he joined the Navy and served off and on for over 23 years.He served aboard the USS Tarawa during the Korean War, in Stumpy Point, NC at Stumpy Point Naval Targets and aboard the USS Enterprise at its Commissioning and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was then assigned to Attack Squadron VA-86, a fighter bomber group attached to the USS Independence, and served in Vietnam. In December 1970 he was ordered aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS America CVA-66. He served on the America until 1974 and was with the U. S. Forces in the Gulf of Tonkin when the Vietnam War was brought to an end. He retired in 1977 as Senior Chief Aviation Boatswains Mate.After the Navy, B.D. spent 20 years as a Federal Firefighter, serving 8 years with the Little Creek Amphibious Base Fire Department and 12 years at Fort A. P. Hill. He also spent several years during his Navy career working on the C & O Railroad, working his way up to brakeman.His passions included his farm, trains, naval history and restoring antique fire trucks. He had an impressive collection of trucks in which he took great pride and was a regular participant in many annual parade events. His trophy case is filled to overflowing! B.D. was always an animal lover, and in his later years he took pleasure from his beloved pet cats.A funeral service will be held at Bethpage Christian Church, 4491 Fredericks Hall Rd, Mineral, VA, at 2pm on Thursday, June 9th with interment to follow in Spring Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 until 8pm on Wednesday, June 8th at the Church.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your local Fire Department or Animal Shelter.