Theckla Constable Ledyard was born in Syracuse, on Oct. 2, 1928 to Robert D. and Theckla Constable. She attended Edward Smith School until her parents moved the family to Cazenovia, where she entered the sixth grade in the Cazenovia Central School. Very early, a professor at the Syracuse University of Art used her in an article for Scholastic Magazine, where she discussed the effectiveness of paint by number as a teaching aid for children. In eighth grade Theckla was fortunate to have Merrill Bailey as her art teacher. Thus began her short interest in wild bird landscapes and her longer interest in copying, in oil, the various 14th century paintings with their fascinating treatment of fabrics. In the mid-forties she was a member of the Army Air Force Aircraft Warning Service, earning her wings spotting planes from the school roof. She was also a member of the Cazenovia Little Theatre group, taking part in several plays
In 1950, when she married Richard Fitzhugh Ledyard, a long-time friend, she had just finished the year course at the prestigious Katherine Gibbs business school in New York City, living at the Barbizon Hotel for women. She took the position of secretary to the assistant treasurer of the Bristol Laboratories penicillin plant, until the arrival of their son George, followed by the birth of two daughters, Theckla and Kimberly. At about this time she retired from Bristol, and started doing the billing for the Willowbank Yacht Club and some secretarial work for the Secretary of the Sports Car Club of America, both of which she did from her home. For many years she carried on a small business making and selling hand rolled beeswax candles.
While in Cazenovia, she was cited by the Republican Women’s Club for outstanding enrollment. She enjoyed swimming and sailing and the winter activities offered in Cazenovia, and golfing with the Bristol lady golfers and was glad her children had been able to enjoy them too. When a transfer took them so far from Cazenovia that a return trip took five days, they also bought an RV so they could travel with their dogs for their annual trip back. They also kept a small vacation house there. She was never happy unless she did the driving and, as a result, drove across the country 52 times and would tell friends that everyone should do it once to get an appreciation of what our forefathers must have endured.
They lived in Montclair, NJ, twice, where she was treasurer of the Junior Women of St. James Episcopal Church, secretary of the Montclair Club Scout leaders, was elected Republican County Committeewoman by ballot, and volunteered at the Watchung Elementary School, taking the short course on the new ITA reading system and teaching the students how to use it.
After moving to Houston, she volunteered in the Mother’s program, keeping the school libraries open. She was both a scout leader and cookie chairman for the Girl Scouts and board member of the Springbranch Newcomers Club. Moving to Beaumont, TX, she was chairman of arts and crafts for their Newcomer Club and served with her husband on the Mayor’s anti-litter committee. She worked one-on-one with the local high school students who reached 12th grade, still reading at 4th, 8th and 10th grade level, and one day a week , updated the school card catalog; She was a board member of the Beaumont Federation of Republican Women, volunteer coordinator for the Beaumont Public Library and board member of Friends of the library. She was a board member of the Beaumont Symphony Women’s League, and enjoyed the many offerings of the Beaumont Art Museum, becoming a docent, taking art lectures to the high schools. She joined her husband as president and vice president of the American Field Service, enjoying visits and corresponding with a pair of very funny Japanese girls who stayed with them, and for several years a German girl, learning about her amazing, and difficult, education system there.
In 1980 her husband retired from Graybar Electric Company and they, with their dog, moved to Bellevue, WA, where their three children and families lived. She volunteered with the City Probation Department for 17 years. Along the way she enjoyed bridge, tennis and golf, belonging to the Cazenovia Club, The Cazenovia Golf Club, the Bellevue Country Club of Syracuse, the Glen Ridge Club and the Tam O’Shanter Golf and Country Club of Bellevue, WA. She and her husband belonged to the club couples bridge group and for a few years ran the bingo for the club. Theckla belonged to the club’s bridge group and was responsible at times for its activity.
Her husband died the day before the Covid virus was announced. Theckla passed away Jan. 2, 2023. She is survived by a son George (wife Genie), a daughter Theckla Roginski (husband Michael) and a daughter Kimberly McGee (husband Robert), eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Remembrances may be made to your local Humane Society or The Nature Conservancy.
