Columbus Indiana Obituaries

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

My sister, Sheila McCalip White's Memorial Service was Sunday July 31st at First Christian Church in North Vernon. 8 of her nine children were able to make it to the Service, plus my 2 other sisters, Linda McCalip Reading and Leanna McCalip Aly, and a host of grand and great grand children. Some from the state of Washington, some from Fl, and some from S.C. and in between....We covered the US from Coast to Coast.
Following an emotional service we all drove to her son Tim's house in the country, where Sheila lived during her active years in North Vernon. She had planted a weeping willow tree then, and it is now a huge, beautiful sight. Her wish was to be returned there, and all the relatives participated in her final resting place.
Once again, I wish to express my gratitude for all your support and compassion. Hopefully, now I can become more active again on the fantastic site !!! Blessings, Margo John 1:16

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Notice of the passing of Jerry "Scho" Schofield's sister,
SONJA 10/16/2005
'
Sonja C. Costanzi, 66, of Columbus, died at 3:31 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at Columbus Regional Hospital.

A private funeral will be at Myers–Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel on 25th Street. Calling will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.

Memorial may be made to the donor’s choice of charities.

Survivors include daughters, Lisa (Rick) Ross and Toni Costanzi, both of Columbus and Shannon (David) Smith of Blackhawk, S.D.; a son, Shane Costanzi of Columbus;

a brother, Jerry Schofield of Sarasota, Fla.;

and seven grandchildren.
****************
Jerry was a member of the 1955 graduating class from CHS,and SONJA was in the class of '57. If you care to send "SCHO" a card, and do not have his address, just email me, as I do not wish to place it here on a public site. May our Lord be with Jerry and SONJA'S family, through this deep, dark valley in their lives. Blessings, Margo

[David Sechrest]

From The Republic, 1/12/06, by Harry McCawley

Philip R. “Sap” Essex, the Columbus entrepreneur who turned a small downtown bakery into what came to be called the world’s largest maker of doughnuts, died Tuesday evening at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Essex, 95, was co-founder with his brother Tom of Sap’s Famous Doughnuts, and the doughnut that bore his name was recognized as one of the world’s most popular pastries.

But the sprawling complex on National Road which employed hundreds of area residents in the 60s and 70s started modestly in the 1940s when the Essex brothers acquired Gelker’s Bakery at Fifth and Washington streets.

Up to that time, Essex had been known for the restaurants he operated in the area.

The Bartholomew County native began his business career in the 1930s in Edinburgh, where he acquired a service station he expanded to include a lunch counter.

He moved to Columbus and opened Sap’s Grille at 12th and Washington streets, which would be one of the most popular eateries in the city for several decades.

Later he purchased Columbus Bar and is credited by many with developing CB’s famous tenderloin sandwich and chili.

He entered the Navy in World War II and continued his civilian calling as a Navy cook.

Upon his discharge and return to Columbus, he expanded his business interests to include Gelker Bakery. Along the way he gave jobs to two other entrepreneurs —George Nentrup and Gene Brierly.

Later, Nentrup would take over ownership of Columbus Bar, and Brierly developed restaurants and bakeries on his own, including Gene’s Cafeteria in The Commons and Eastbrook Shopping Center.

That assessment of the potential of others served him well over the years, according to his brother Tom.

“Sap knew that he couldn’t keep good people such as them as employees,” Tom said in a 1988 interview. “So he made them partners and eventually sold out to them.”

The bakery at Fifth and Washington quickly mushroomed, production quintupling within a year after the Essex Brothers had taken it over.

The growth forced a move in about 1960 to a large National Road complex where it became a wholesale business, supplying customers throughout the country.

Sap’s was proclaimed on billboards as the world’s largest maker of doughnuts.

They used the most modern in equipment and developed an efficient delivery system, but behind the success was Sap Essex’ determination that his bakery produce the best doughnuts in the world.

“Sap was the quality control in our company,” brother Tom recalled.

The success drew the attention of others in the business. A trade publication featured Sap’s Doughnuts as one of the all-time bakery success stories, and one day in the late ’70s the company’s president was approached by representatives of Beatrice Foods who proposed to buy the company.

“I couldn’t turn it down,” he said later.

The facility is now the Dolly Madison bakery.

Sap Essex also partnered with fellow Columbus businessman Rex Breeden in creating the Blairlex Laboratories in Evansville. That business was relocated to Columbus and is today owned by Tony Moravec.

From The Obituary Column:

Philip R. “Sap” Essex, 95, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Sap was owner of numerous successful local businesses, including partnerships with George Nentrup, Rex Breeden, Gene Brierly and Max Lemley. He was founder, along with his brother Thomas, of Sap’s Bakery, (now Dolly Madison Bakery) maker of Sap’s Famous Donuts, and also founded Columbus Bar and Essex House in Louisville, Ky.

He co-founded, with Rex Breeden, Blairex Laboratories in Evansville, now located in Columbus and owned by Tony Moravec.

He was a former member of Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and Chicago Board Option Exchange and was one of the founding stockholders of Harrison Lake Country Club. He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Matthew Welsh and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and First United Methodist Church.

He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving in both the Pacific and European theaters.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home on 25th Street. Calling will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday. Entombment will be at Garland Brook Cemetery Mausoleum.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana or First United Methodist Church, 618 Eighth St., Columbus, IN 47201

You may light a virtual candle and send a message to the family via the Internet at www.jewellrittman.com.

Sap was born Oct. 7, 1910, in the Bartholomew County area now occupied by Camp Atterbury, the son of Lex and Kate Dodd Essex. He married Marjorie M. Anderson Oct. 9, 1939.

Survivors include a son, Philip Rex Essex of Columbus; a brother, Thomas L. Essex of Columbus; grandchildren, William Church IV, Amanda Dodd Church and Sarah Neel, all of Louisville, Ky.; and one great-granddaughter, Aurora Neel.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie, and a daughter, Dana Lynn Neel, who both died within the past year. He also was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John K. Essex; and four sisters, Ruth and Miriam Essex, Esther Carson and Alice Lemley.

www.jewellrittman.com

Joy Deckard provided the following photo to me a few years back. Taken inside Columbus Bar in the 1940's, Sap is in uniform.

[nancs]

Thanks David, and Richard, and Charlie, as well, for keeping me up to date.

My memory of Sap----the baked beans, the only way I prepare them, as in HIS WAY!!!! Ask my girls, and they will tell you, "Mom, fixed Sap's baked beans for dinner tonight!" And they are California kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With absolutely no clue about Sap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great photos!!! Love them. And yes, a pork tenderloin for the CB. Waiting for that picture, Richard, you just want to make me jealous of how readily available they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

Have a good one.

Nanc ;-)

[Ricky_Berkey]

Sap Essex stories are popping up all over town! How sad to lose such a legendary character and successful businessman. Harry McCawley's column on Jan 17th talks about how Sap had started a Tucker automobile dealership at 6th and Washington and actually has a Tucker on display for a short time (there were only 50 made) before the company was forced out of business. Tucker was accused of swindling the public and selling dealerships without having intentions of producing them but his factory was finally set and ready to roll when the govt brought him up on fraud charges. He was ultimately exonerated but had no capital to continue the business and it was liquidated.

[Shannon Smith]

Jerry treated my mother not so well. How about sending her children condolences?

chsclassof55 said:

Notice of the passing of Jerry "Scho" Schofield's sister,
SONJA 10/16/2005
'
Sonja C. Costanzi, 66, of Columbus, died at 3:31 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at Columbus Regional Hospital.

A private funeral will be at Myers–Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel on 25th Street. Calling will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.

Memorial may be made to the donor’s choice of charities.

Survivors include daughters, Lisa (Rick) Ross and Toni Costanzi, both of Columbus and Shannon (David) Smith of Blackhawk, S.D.; a son, Shane Costanzi of Columbus;

a brother, Jerry Schofield of Sarasota, Fla.;

and seven grandchildren.
****************
Jerry was a member of the 1955 graduating class from CHS,and SONJA was in the class of '57. If you care to send "SCHO" a card, and do not have his address, just email me, as I do not wish to place it here on a public site. May our Lord be with Jerry and SONJA'S family, through this deep, dark valley in their lives. Blessings, Margo

[Rhonda]

6/23/2006 6:41:00 AM

Lew Zaharako
Lew Zaharako, 58, of Columbus died at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky.

Arrangements are incomplete at Myers-Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel.

[David Sechrest]

It's been a sad day around here...

After I read Richard's post this morning, I called the Zaharako family. It seems that Lew went in for bypass surgery earlier this month. Everything went fine with that. However, he developed a leak and the doctors had to go back in and repair that. That went fine as well. With no warning whatsoever, a bloodclot developed somewhere at the base of the skull, on the spinal cord, and Lew went in to a coma. He passed on shortly thereafter.

I saw Lew about 6 or 7 weeks ago at the Downtown Grocery. He looked the best I've seen him look for a long time. He'd lost about 40 pounds and was in a really good mood.

Lew was a good friend of mine. He was also a HUGE supporter of the Historic Columbus Indiana website. He was always so concerned about my health and he meant it. I truly enjoyed stopping in and chatting with him...sitting on the stool where Manual Zaharako sat many times, talking to his friends.

I first met Lew in 1967. He was going to school and would come "home" and work at Zaharako's during the busy season, i. e., from Thanksgiving to Christmas. All the Zaharako kids, Lew, Ted, Anne, and Jim, always worked on the weekends during this time.

Lew was a very smart man. It took a while to get to know him. He was a very private person and didn't gossip about others.

The last time I saw him inside Zaharako's, he was so excited about the work going on regarding the ceiling. He was so concerned about damaging that fragile tinwork. He found someone who knew how to work with it. The old paint was being removed and the tin ceiling was being repainted. He talked of getting the place cleaned up, and was really excited about all of it.

Lew loved going to the library. Next to Zaharako's, I think that was his second favorite place. He spent alot of time there.

I enjoyed listening to his stories about the Zaharako family and the history of Zaharako's. And I so much enjoyed sitting in the place and remembering what it was like when I worked there back in 1967. The hustle and bustle of people that visited...those crazy weekends when busloads of people came to eat and visit...the pipe organ playing non-stop...it was truly a remarkable time...

I'm going to miss Lew. When I spoke to the family earlier this morning, it was neither the time nor place to ask about the future of Zaharako's...that information will come soon enough.

But the place will never be the same without him...

[richard]

Lew D. Zaharako, 58, of Columbus died at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky.

Mr. Zaharako was a 1970 graduate of Indiana University and a 1974 graduate of Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington. He was a retired private practice attorney and a partner in Zaharako Confectionery where he loved to talk with people, especially about the history of the establishment.

He was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and First Christian Church and a former member of the Indiana and Bartholomew County bar associations.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Myers-Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel on 25th Street with the Rev. Michael T. Hogg officiating. Calling will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. until service time Monday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Bartholomew County Public Library or Love Chapel.

Online condolences may be sent to the Zaharako family at www.myers-reed.com.

Born in Columbus Dec. 21, 1947, Mr. Zaharako was the son of Lewie J. and May V. Daleure Zaharako.

He is survived by a brother, Ted (Allie) Zaharako of Columbus; cousins, Dimitrius (Joanna) Zaharako and Annie (Danny) Dutro of Columbus; uncles, Harry Daleure and his daughter Elaine of Claire, Mich., and Gus Daleure of Louisville, Ky.; and extended family, Sally and Douglas Phillips of Avon, N.Y.

He was preceded in death by his parents.


This information courtesy of The Republic.

[richard]

I received the following note from Jerry Records.

Richard

With much regret, I have been asked to let classmates and friends know that J C Gosnell died Sunday, July 9, 2006. The service in Hilltop Lakes, Texas will be Thursday, July 13 (tentative at this time).

Harry Horn told me “I think we will try to have a memorial service in Columbus in the near future.” If you have any questions, please call or e-mail Harry Horn. Cell phone # 343-; e-mail: @.com.

Please forward this to anyone else who might want to know. I certainly don’t have up-to-date e-mail addresses for all classmates. If you know of any other classmates’ e-mail addresses, please let me know.

Janet

[RER]

Gosnell, John Charles "JC"

John Charles 'JC' Gosnell March 3, 1936 -- July 9, 2006 MADISONVILLE -- Memorial services for John Charles "JC" Gosnell, 70, of Hilltop Lakes, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2006, at the Hilltop Lakes Chapel. The Rev. Tony Taylor will officiate. Mr. Gosnell was born March 3, 1936, in Orestes, Indiana, and he died Sunday, July 9, 2006, at Hilltop Lakes. He moved to Texas in 1969. JC's career was spent working with and helping young people. He served as a Boy's Club director in Indiana and was a chief juvenile probation officer in Brazoria County. JC was a retired court liaison officer and a basketball coach for Kerrville ISD. Survivors include his wife, Judy Gosnell; daughter, Jai Leigh Addison; sons, Chip Gosnell and Scott McGrath; and six grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803; or Hilltop Lakes Chapel, No. 2 Hilltop Dr., P.O. Box 1143, Hilltop Lakes, TX 77871.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 7/12/2006.

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

MORE Info on JCGosnell sent to me by Bob Records.....


JC Gosnell went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 9, 2006, after a lengthy illness. He was currently residing in Hilltop Lakes, Texas.

John Charles Gosnell or JC Gosnell was born on March 3, 1936, in Orestes, Indiana, to his late parents, Catherine and John Gosnell.

JC is survived by his wife, Judy Gosnell; daughter, Jai Leigh Addison and husband, Al, of Austin; son, Chip Gosnell and wife, Trina, of Bastrop; son, Scott McGrath and wife, Laura, of Katy; and six grandsons.

JC’s career was spent working with and helping young people. He served as a Boy’s Club Director in Indiana and was a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer in Brazoria County, Texas. He was a Court Liaison Officer and basketball coach for Kerrville Independent School District. JC served on the Columbus, Indiana, and Kerrville, Texas, City Councils. He was a member of the Silver Anniversary Team that was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

JC was an avid golfer and fisherman. He truly loved fly fishing and all sports, especially basketball and baseball. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. JC was a true American who loved his country.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th St., Bryan, Texas 77803 or to the Hospice of your choice.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
GREAT GUY AND A WONDERFUL ROLE MODEL during the many years he worked with children of all ages;incomes; and disabilities. I don't believe he ever received the recognition he so greatly deserved as he concentrated on public service instead of cashing in on future years in basketball.
He left us with fond memories of the "Cinderella" seasons during the fifties. I was fortunate enough to attend the Semi State at the Ol' Hinkle Fieldhouse and I and all the other fans were SO PROUD of our Team and our Coach Bill Stearman for their sportsmanlike conduct and their " it's for the TEAM" attitude.
Some of the players today could surely use some guidance and instruction in this area. I came home with a feeling of PRIDE in our team and Coach and a sore throat that lasted for two days !! Wonderful; Glorious memories .......Margo

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Former CHS principal Judson Erne passes away Saturday night Sept. 16th. The Funeral will be Wednesday September 20th at 11:00 am .

I saw a scanning notice on The Republic's Web Site just now.

Columbus has lost a wonderful Statesman and Student supporter !
He was one administrator who was very seldom in his office.He preferred to walk the halls to give a compliment to a deserving student or a harsh look and a comment to anyone who deserved it.

[Babs]

This news from the Republic of the passing of Judson Erne.
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9/18/2006 6:36:00 AM Email this article • Print this article


Judson S. Erne
Judson S. Erne, 98, of Columbus, died at 8:25 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, at Silver Oaks Health Campus in Columbus.

Mr. Erne was principal at Columbus High School from 1949 to 1972, where more than 12,000 students graduated during his tenure, and director of Secondary Education for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. from 1972 to 1973. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and participated in church activities. In 2003, Mayor Fred Armstrong proclaimed Judson Erne Day on Mr. Erne's birthday.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006, at First United Methodist Church on Eighth Street in Columbus, with the Rev. Steve Kaetzel officiating. Calling will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006, at Myers-Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel on 25th Street and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery in Columbus.

Memorials may be made to the Judson S. Erne Scholarship Fund through Columbus Rotary or The Heritage Fund to assist young people or to the First United Methodist Church through the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.Myers-Reed.com.

Mr. Erne was born April 5, 1908, in Portland, Ind., the son of the Rev. Franklin and Matilda Rothweiler Erne. He married Marguerite H. Schiele on June 10, 1933, in Elkton, Mich.

Survivors include a son, James J. Erne of Fort Worth, Texas; a daughter, Sheila Van Bloem of Columbus; grandchildren, Julie Belton of Fort Worth, Susan Ohman of Dallas, Jennifer Mcdermitt of Fort Worth, Skip Van Bloem of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico and Nicole Van Bloem of Ypsilanti, Mich.; three great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife on Jan. 14, 2003; a sister, Prudence Payne; and a brother, Spurgeon Erne.

Mr. Erne graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Ill. in 1931 with a B.A. in business administration and from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. in 1948 with an M.A. in School Administration. He taught and coached at Berne High School from 1931 to 1940, achieving the state basketball tourney from the high school of only 89 students. From 1940 to 1944 he taught and coached at Huntingburg High School and from 1944 to 1948 at Hartford City High School.

He was director of Guidance and Counseling at Columbus High School from 1948 to 1949 and directed the building of both North and East high schools. On April 14, 1985, the North High School Auditorium was designated "Judson S. Erne Auditorium."

Mr. Erne was president the first two years of the Retirement Study Commission in Columbus which created "Senior Citizens Organizations" and was president of the Bartholomew County TB Association. He served on the boards of Foundation For Youth-Boys & Girls Club, United Way of Bartholomew County for two terms and Volunteer Services League and was a counselor for Boy Scout activities. He was a director and tour guide for Columbus Visitors Center and was a member of Columbus Redevelopment Commission. Mr. Erne was elected to City Council at Large for 1980 to 1984.

He was a member of the Rotary Club where he served as president from 1976 to 1977. Mr. Erne received Rotary awards in 1985, "Paul Harris Fellow"; 1997, "Stewart Legacy Award" for outstanding service to Rotary, community and profession; and 1998, "Honorary" Rotarian. In 2001 the Judson S. Erne Scholarship, a Rotary scholarship fund, was established through The Heritage Foundation.

Mr. Erne was a member of the National Education Association and National Association of Secondary School Principals where he served as a director of the association's Commission on Secondary School and Colleges. He was President of Indiana State Secondary Principals Association, and served two terms as president of the Indiana High School Athletic Council during 10 years on the council and also was president and a ten-year member of the Indiana High School Athletic Board of Control.

Appointed to the State Advisory Commission on School Facilities, Mr. Erne also served on the Indiana State North Central Association Commission-Educational Accrediting Body and on School House Planning and Vocational Education advisory commissions for Indiana Department of Public Instruction. At his inauguration, Dean Evans, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, designated Mr. Erne "The Ideal High School Principal."

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Mr. Erne Remembered
To the Republic Newspaper and staff:

Thank you so much for the outstanding article on our former principal..Mr. Erne!!! A man who will be missed in the Columbus Community not only for his accomplishments as an Educator but of his service to this Community he loved so much.

He was in poor health and could not make it to our CHS Class of '55 Reunion last year. We sorely missed him as he and his gracious wife had attended all the others.

This gentleman was seldom in his office..always out in the hallways complimenting a student for some achievement or touching another student on their shoulder. He would give them a harsh look and let them know they were not living up to his expectations. When those eyes focused strongly on you - - you knew you had done something very wrong. He was dearly loved and highly respected by many of his students. Because of him Columbus reached a new high in Student grades and graduations.
When I walked across that stage many years ago he handed me my diploma and shook my hand. I knew I had accomplished something worthwhile just because of his generous smile.

Thanks once again for bringing his accomplishments to the attention of the Columbus Community. I have emailed this article to many of my CHS friends through cyberspace. Margo McCalip Hughey CHS Class of '55

Side Note: I attended Mr. Erne's funeral today and heard thoughts from Leroy Nelson; Jim Foulke; Lew Essex; a gentleman from the 1972 graduating class; and Sam Simmermaker. All of these men referred to him as Mr. Erne and commented on how he set high standards for each class. There were numerous references to the "1 or 2 %" and they did not mean the top students. Mr. Erne was concerned about all the students under his supervision and always expected the highest standards for them. I was honored as a student to have know this gentleman and as a friend later in life to him and his gracious wife Marguirite

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Comments from the SOUND OFF COLUMN in The Republic...

Soundoff entry by: Dorothy Christophel

Missing Mr. Erne
I was cafeterial manager when Mr. Erne was principal, and we enjoyed Mr. Erne coming in the kitchen to say Hi and letting us know we were thought of. He also came in to get our delicious sweet rolls that he really liked. We missed him after he retired and will miss him now.


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Soundoff entry by: Jack Voelz

First graduating class with Erne
I was in Mr. Erne's first graduating class as principal of Columbus High School in 1950. Mr. Erne always said he had a soft spot in his heart for our class. We all had a great relationship with him.

The thing I remember most in my relationship with him was at my graduation. As I walked across the stage and he handed me my diploma he said, "Congratulations, Jack you graduated in two years -- you weren't here half of the time."..

[David Sechrest]

Thanks to Margo & Babs for posting Judson Erne's obit. What sad news. I attended CHS from '68 to '70, and Mr. Erne (as we called him) was an extrordinary Principal and Human Being.

He touched the lives of many teenagers during a critical time of their lives...

[Babs]

Re: Mr. Erne's comment to Jack Voelz at his graduation. I never knew Mr. Erne had this side to him. For some reason, and don't ask me why, I was always rather in awe of all my teachers from early on. Yet I was around a lot of them in growing up as teachers were always my parent's best friends. Anyhow, I loved hearing this comment Mr. Erne made to Jack and guess it made me realize he did have a "lighter side". I always thought him very stern and serious (sort of like my dad was/is).

It seems Mr. Erne had a profound effect on all who knew him and I know he will be missed by his many students.

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Gordon A. Huckaby, 72, of Indianapolis, died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at his home.
The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Jonathan Moore Pike, with the Rev. Robert Johnson officiating. Calling will be from 11:30 a.m. to service time Monday. Burial will be at Ohio Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille Strahl Huckaby; sons, Eric (Laura) Huckaby of Bellair Beach, Fla. and Joe (Dawn) Huckaby of Terre Haute; a daughter, Geth Hunter of Indianapolis; brothers, Olen Huckaby, Junior (Hallie) Huckaby and Malcolm (Patsy) Huckaby, all of Columbus; and six grandchildren.
***************
Not many people know that Gordon designed and built the original Bulldog mascot that is rolled out before every basketball game.

It has been patched many times since then and is still in use today at Columbus North. An extremely gifted artist under the supervision of Karl McCan art teacher.
At the funeral I learned that Gordon had focused his artistic gift on totally restoring a historic home in Indianapolis and had a penchant for making clowns. I met his brother Malcolm (Mac) and we shared many memories of this gifted gentleman.
Another great one from CHS Class of '54.

[friend]

I wonder if someone would post the obit for this lady from the republic. Thanks,

Rita Mae Dooley Wells, 70, of Ninth Street died at 2:06 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, at Columbus Regional Hospital.