EDNA — James I. “Sonny” Ledbetter, 82, of Edna died at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy (Foister) Ledbetter, of the home.

He was born June 5, 1929, at rural Vinita, Okla., to Irvy C. and Aimee (White) Ledbetter. He grew up on Big Creek, Okla., south of Edna.

He attended country schools and joined the Army in March 1951. Following his discharge in February 1953, he returned to Edna where he graduated from Edna High School in 1956. Following graduation he worked at the Continental Can Co. in Coffeyville for a short time. He then attended the Stromberg-Carlson Dial School in New York, after which he began his career as a telephone service technician and worked for the Edna Telephone Co., which later became part of Craw-Kan telephone co-op. He retired in 1976.

Mr. Ledbetter enjoyed gardening and was well known for his tomatoes. He also enjoyed fishing and he played and coached baseball. He helped build the Edna city baseball park. He also enjoyed playing the guitar.

He was a member of the Edna United Methodist Church, the American Legion and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Coffeyville. He was a member of the Edna Masonic Lodge No. 345.

He married Dorothy F. Foister on Nov. 9, 1951, at Bentonville, Ark. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Susan Melton and her husband, Larry, of Edna, Alice Duncan and her husband, Will, of rural Coffeyville; four grandchildren, James Melton and his wife, Tammy, Eric Melton and his wife, Dawn, Andrew Duncan and his wife, Alexis, and Jesse Duncan; six great-grandchildren, Alyssa Melton, Victoria Melton, Michael Fawcett, Alyssa Fawcett, Matthew Fawcett and Benjamin Duncan; a stepgrandson, Joshua Duncan and his wife, Jennifer; and six stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother; two sisters; and a grandson, Douglas Melton, who died in 2007.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Edna United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Edna Elm Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Edna United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, 67330.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.