Elbert Spencer Redditt Sr., 88 of Vicksburg, died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, at University Medical Center in Jackson.

Mr. Redditt was a lifelong resident of Oak Ridge and a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army Infantry Division in 1942. He received four Battle Stars and a Purple Heart during World War II. He returned to Oak Ridge in 1945 and, along with his wife, Virginia, built an Oak Ridge community grocery store. Redditt’s Grocery was owned and operated by the Reddit’s for some 55 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Excell and Annie Mae Martin Redditt; his wife, Virginia Allison Redditt; a daughter, Martha Ann Redditt McLeod; sons, Elbert “Sonny” Redditt Jr. and Aroy E. Redditt; brothers, Robert Redditt and Roy Redditt; and sister, Annie Mae Reed.

Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Dixie Redditt of Vicksburg; grandchildren Brad (Nita) Redditt and Rachael Redditt, all of Vicksburg, Mark (Lisa) Redditt of Nashville, Amy (Russ) McAllister of Florence, Miss., Gail (Jeff) Hunt of Greenville, Ky., and Richard McLeod of Memphis; a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Dr. Jackson, Lori and Mary in the ER at River Region Medical Center, Dr. Uschmann, and his medical staff, along with Rachel Black and other UMC nurses and flight crew.