Elder W. Don Ladd, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, passed away peacefully in his home in Snellville, Ga., on Oct. 6, 2009. He was 76.
At his funeral in the Lilburn Georgia Stake Center, family members and friends remembered him as a great leader in Church callings, work and home.
Representing the First Presidency at the funeral was Elder Ralph W. Hardy Jr., an Area Seventy in the North America Northeast Area. In his remarks, Elder Hardy recalled Elder Ladd's distinguished leadership in the Church, specifically in the greater Washington, D.C., area.
Elder Ladd was called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in 1994, where he served in the North America Northeast Area presidency from 1994-97, the North America Southeast Presidency from 1997-98 and the North America East Area Presidency from 1998-99.
Prior to his call to the Seventy, Elder Ladd served in many capacities in the Church, including regional representative, stake president and bishop. He served for more than 20 years as the chairman of Washington, D.C., Public Affairs Advisory Committee.
In his professional career, Elder Ladd spent much of his time involved in government and politics. He worked for more than 20 years in different government jobs including: vice president of government affairs for Marriott International from 1982-94, assistant to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1967-82 and as an administrative assistant to a U.S. congressman from 1959-67.
Elder Ladd grew up on a farm in Florida. Although he wasn't baptized until he was 19, he had attended Church activities his entire life and developed a testimony through Scouting and other Church functions.
During the funeral, family members remembered Elder Ladd for his testimony and constant example of living the principles of the restored gospel in his home. Printed on the back of the funeral program were Elder Ladd's words from the October 1994 general conference: "The most important thing we can do — young or old — is develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If we do, we will always be comfortable with ourselves. Any questions of self-esteem and self-worth will diminish and we will have a quiet confidence that will see us through any trial."
Elder Ladd was born on July 14, 1933, to Joseph Donald and Phyllis Rose Anderson Ladd in San Mateo, Fla. He and his wife, Ruth, have four children, 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
