BLOOMINGTON —
Ledford Carter knew he was dying.
But during the final months of his life, he repeatedly told friends and relatives he had only one wish — that his ailing wife precede him in death.
On June 4, he was granted that final wish when his beloved wife of 72 years, Julia Carter, died at age 94 from respiratory failure after nearly a decade of poor health.
Two days later, Ledford, one year her senior, died from kidney failure.
“He said his mission in life was to outlive her, so he would not leave her alone as a widow,” said Julia’s brother, Frank Sewell. “After she died, he was ready to let go.”
Guy Loftman, a longtime friend, said the Carters had an “absolutely devoted” relationship.
“The two of them were completely intertwined,” he said. “You couldn’t tell where one stopped and the other started.”
Ledford affectionately called her “Duba,” which represented Julia’s best attempt to pronounce her own name when she was a toddler.
Sewell said the couple loved to attend concerts and operas together; and relished traveling all over the world — to Europe, South America, the Far East.
“They loved each other from beginning to end,” Sewell said. “They just seemed to be in harmony with one another in everything they did, including passing away at nearly the same time.”
Though their lives were inextricably linked, they had individual interests. Ledford was a retired Indiana University professor who loved to do photography and genealogy work, unearthing in the process a number of genealogical nuggets — that he was related to Ralph Waldo Emerson and “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, and was President Jimmy Carter’s sixth cousin. At age 89, Ledford published a book, “My Lust For Discovery,” that was a distillation of his global travels.
Julia was a fashion consultant before she married, and later worked for 16 years as head librarian at the Indiana University Medical Sciences branch.
“Julia would sew exquisite costumes that she and Ledford would wear to costume parties,” Sewell said. “On more than one occasion they would win prizes for best costumes.”
After the Carters took up residence at the Meadowood Retirement Community, Julia established and supervised the library there, and made costumed Madrigal singer dolls that Ledford proudly put on display at Meadowood.
When Julia’s health was failing, Ledford dutifully cared for her in their Meadowood garden unit apartment. In 2004, after she became so ill she had to be moved into Meadowood’s health pavilion, he would drive a quarter mile from his apartment to the pavilion every day to have dinner with her.
“He was totally devoted to her,” said Kim White, a licensed practical nurse at Meadowood. “He would come over to talk to her every day, and he decorated the walls of her room with beautiful photos he’d taken.”
Sewell said Ledford would sometimes visit Julia twice a day.
“Even when she could no longer talk, he would sit with her and hold her hand and read to her,” he said.
During the final few months of his life, Ledford was too ill to drive, but he continued to make daily trips from his apartment to the pavilion to spend time with Julia.
“He was so weak that it would take him 2 and half to three hours to walk to the pavilion to see her,” White said. “He would stop and rest several times along the way. Then he’d sit with Julia in her room and talk to her before walking back to his apartment.”
Finally, Ledford moved into an apartment in the main Meadowood building — the same one that houses the health pavilion — so he could be closer to Julia. But shortly thereafter, Ledford suffered a heart attack and after being treated at the hospital, he moved into the health pavilion itself.
He spent the final days of his life in Room No. 30. Down the hall, not far away, was Julia — in Room No. 28.
Local & Bistate
Indiana couple married 72 years dies 2 days apart
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Westbound I-70 closed in Putnam County
Westbound Interstate 70 has been closed this evening due to a three-vehicle accident in Putnam County.
-
22-hospital St. Vincent Health cutting jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indiana’s largest health systems says it’s cutting an undisclosed number of jobs by June 30 because of increasing economic and competitive pressure on the health care industry.
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Westbound I-70 closed in Putnam County
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Today in History May 23
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Today in History May 22
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
