Ted Emmett LaFleur passed away peacefully on October 18, 2026, in Fort Mill, South Carolina, at the age of 92. Born February 2, 1934, in Lawtell, Louisiana, to Emmett James and Clara Lavergne LaFleur, he moved with his family at age three to Crowley, Louisiana, where his parents managed a small grocery store for more than 30 years.

Throughout school, Ted was an excellent student who particularly excelled in math, science, and chemistry. He also developed an early interest in electricity and radio, and taught himself  how to build and repair radios from reading library books. He would later go on to build his family’s television set from a Heath Kit. He graduated high school in 1952 as valedictorian and class president of a class of 22.

He earned a chemistry degree from Southwestern Louisiana Institute, where he joined ROTC and Alpha Phi Omega and was inducted into Blue Key Honor Society. Shortly after graduating in 1956, he married Vera Dugal and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He earned his pilot’s wings, flew T-33/F-80 jet aircraft, and ended his military career as a captain.

Ted then worked as a chemist for Murphy Oil and later as a Development Engineer and Manager for Celanese Corporation in Pearisburg, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, retiring after 30 years.

An avid traveler, he explored Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Egypt, Mexico, Canada, Belize, and the Dominican Republic. He was an animal lover who enjoyed feeding the ducks, geese, birds, and deer that gathered by the lake. He loved woodworking, making furniture and crafts, shopping yard sales, and repairing the items

he found. Ted was a grill master with his own family barbecue sauce recipe that his children and grandchildren still use. He also enjoyed music, had a fine singing voice, and was active in local theater, directing productions and building sets. 

He is survived by his five children—Elizabeth Zeibel (Joe), Catherine Merry (Gary), Cynthia Ormseth (Bob), Gary LaFleur (Reagan), and Alan LaFleur (Morgan)—his five grandchildren (Danielle, Alex, Alaina, Nicole, and Aaron), step-grandson Jason, and one niece, Renee.

A service celebrating Ted’s life will be held at the Palmetto Funeral Home in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.