The community is mourning the sudden loss of Erik Gray Ledbetter, a beloved local park ranger who passed away on July 1, 2025 in the line of duty. A dedicated public servant and an individual of diverse passions, Ledbetter’s life was marked by a deep commitment to history, nature, and the many friendships he cultivated throughout his journey from his childhood in Cheverly to his impactful career in Maryland’s state parks– including his time at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg.
His passing leaves a significant void for his family, friends, and the countless admirers he gathered along the way. The video below shows him explaining scenes from The Blair Witch Project that were filmed in Seneca Creek State Park.
Per
Pumphrey Funeral Home
: “Erik Gray Ledbetter was born on February 12, 1967, to Edythe Buermeyer and Robert Richard Ledbetter in Washington DC. They lived in Cheverly, MD throughout his childhood. He attended Queen Anne School, did summer programs through Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, learned to sail, and volunteered as a tour guide at the National Air and Space Museum. He greatly prized road trips with his parents, whom he made look at every single cannon on the battlefields they visited. He learned to eat crabs but not pizza.
He attended Johns Hopkins University, earning an undergraduate degree in history and a masters degree in the history of science. He also earned a huge collection of friends and admirers amongst his classmates, many of whom he kept in contact with for the rest of his life. One of those admirers, Lynn Willis, eventually became his wife.
After undergrad, he moved on to Yale University to study history and learn to eat pizza. He kept collecting friends and admirers and earned a masters in American history.
Missing his native Maryland, he came to the DC area to start his career. Or, more accurately, careers. He first became an instructional designer, creating online classes for multiple organizations. These jobs did not feed his curiosity, though. The first job of his heart was as the administrator of the Nazi-Era Provenance Internet Portal for the American Association of Museums. He kept collecting friends and admirers.
From there, he decided that office work wasn’t really his calling. He began as a volunteer at Seneca Creek State Park, then a seasonal ranger. He was hired as a full park ranger for Gunpowder Falls State Park. He transferred back to Seneca Creek State Park, became a lead ranger and then assistant manager. He then transferred back to Gunpowder Falls. Unsurprisingly, he collected friends and admirers.
His favorite job, however, was being father to Owen Willis Ledbetter. The two were active in Boy Scouts, shared a love of the outdoors and military history, and teased each other for being nerds. On family road trips, many cannons were examined.
His love of history and science continued throughout his life and was expressed in his many hobbies. He volunteered for and wrote about historic trains and trolleys, learned astronomy, became an expert in the clothing of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and developed into a knowledgeable enthusiast of mechanical watches.
Erik passed away suddenly on July 1, 2025. He was preceded in the death by his father, Robert. He leaves behind his mother Edythe, his wife Lynn, his son Owen, and an enormous number of friends and admirers. He will be missed.”
