Grace Carolyn (Hoopes) Ledford

Grace Carolyn Ledford, 98, left this world on June 29, 2025 for a better place. Born on June 4, 1927 in Bedford, Ohio, Grace was the first child of the late William and Olga (Green) Hoopes.

She was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated salutatorian from Bedford High School.

Grace married her first husband and they were blessed with four children. After her divorce, she joined the work force and raised her children to be productive and caring individuals.

She would remarry and spend many years owning and running an egg farm of over 100,000 chickens, both with and after her second husband’s death.

She loved to knit, making sweaters, afghans and baby blankets for her family and friends; many of which were entered in the Volusia County Fair and won first and second place ribbons. She also loved to read, a joy she instilled in her children.

Grace was active in her church and in her community attending city council meetings and upon retirement spent time into her 80s, delivering meals to home-bound individuals with the meals-on-wheels program, bringing happiness and friendship into their lives.

She is survived by her daughter, Becky (Winn); and three sons, Doug (Betty), Jim (Sunae) and Tim (Tammy). She was blessed to have four grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren, all bringing her amusement and joy.

Grace was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers. She is survived by a sister, Ola; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will celebrate her life together at a later date.

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed and forever dear.