Sharing a Love of Learning

Lifelong learning has always been an important part of education for Larry and Barbara Ottinger. As educators, they’ve seen different facets of education both in and out of the classroom. They’ve been involved in elementary classrooms through adult education, and their broad experiences with education have informed their perspective on it.

“We saw it in different parts of the state, different parts of our lives, different times,” said Barbara.

Larry and Barbara met while studying to be teachers at Ball State Teacher’s College. After graduating, Barbara took a position teaching seventh-grade geography and business classes at Eaton High School, the same school where she had gained experience as a student-teacher. Larry taught and coached at Elwood while they both completed master’s degrees at Ball State. After finishing their master’s degrees, Larry was offered a position in his hometown of Logansport, Indiana, teaching Social Studies and coaching tennis. In Larry’s view, students’ activities outside of the classroom were always equally important. In addition to teaching and coaching, Larry was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, varsity clubs, and as a class sponsor. But they found their way back to Muncie when Larry was asked to return to Ball State as an academic advisor. Meanwhile, Barbara continued her career in the classroom, teaching high school, at Ball State, at the Muncie Area Career Center, and eventually, adult education workshops.

“There are different kinds of learning. It doesn’t just quit when you graduate,” said Barbara of the adult students she worked with at local factories and community sites. “They’re still learning at that age and stage.”

Larry and Barbara lived in the Morrison Mock school district, where their two sons attended. They were particularly impressed with the school’s support for students with disabilities.

“We got to see some really great things happening in education at that time at Morrison Mock and got to know a lot of the teachers. So that gave us a good feeling about what can be done to help those with disabilities,” said Larry.

They had a personal connection to disability as well. Barbara’s aunt was paralyzed by polio at a young age. Barbara always remembered her aunt as incredibly active, especially with the children in her family and church community.

“She was a great inspiration to those that knew her. It was just incredible that she could persevere,” said Barbara. So, Barbara and Larry knew that disability services were an important part of the field of education.

When Barbara’s brother and sister-in-law started a fund to support education at the community foundation in their county, Barbara and Larry decided they could do something similar in Muncie, the community where they had spent the majority of their lives.

Larry and Barbara already had a relationship with staff members at The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, and Larry had been involved in the creation of the Muncie Endurathon/ Lenette Freeman Fund, a designated fund established by the Muncie Endurathon.

They were also impressed with the Foundation’s reputation in the community.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anybody say anything negative,” said Larry, “It has an impeccable reputation.”

In 2021, Larry and Barbara established the Larry and Barbara Ottinger Family Fund at The Community Foundation, a field of interest fund supporting education. The fund focuses on children and youth with special needs or disabilities and older adults. Their personal and professional experiences with adult education and disability meant that it was important for them to focus on these specific areas.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, not only just when they’re young, but all the way up to adults. And that’s where we hope we’ve covered it all,” said Barbara describing the fund’s goal.

Larry and Barbara continue to educate themselves and others. They volunteer weekly at South View Elementary School, where they have regularly worked for the past five years. They remain connected to Ball State University through advising Greek organizations and attending events on campus. They appreciate cultural events and learning more about the community itself. Larry, a former history major, has recently become a student of genealogy and even discovered that he is a distant cousin of Lucille Ball. And they maintain the importance of philanthropy in their community.

“It’s the lifeblood of a community - how the population of people react and what they do to support the community,” said Larry. “Good things happen when people care.”

Through their philanthropy, Larry and Barbara retain their lifelong connection to education.