In Memory
Dr. John Sterry Long ’42 delivered more than 10,000 babies over five decades. 42 Robert A. “Bob” Denk, 92, died September 19, 2012, in Tallahassee, FL. Born October 14, 1920, in Waveland, IN, he was a member of the Glee Club and Phi Delta Theta while attending Wabash. He served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during World War II. In 1948, he earned his BA in music from the University of Miami [UA] and continued to write and arrange music all his life. He returned to the university to earn his master’s degree in education, which he received in 1955. He retired from Florida’s Dade County School System in 1983 after teaching junior high school band for 35 years. He was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Denk, 4425 Meandering Way Apt. 324, Tallahassee, FL 32308; sons, Bruce and Brian Denk; and sister, Marjorie. Leon I. Davis, 93, died October 9, 2012, in Pendleton, IN. Born December 19, 1918, in Anderson, IN, he was the son of Margaret and Bert Davis. Davis was particularly proud that his father served as the first commander of the Pendleton State Police Post. Davis was a 1936 graduate of Anderson High School and for two years attended Wabash, where he was a member of Sigma Chi. He later attended Indiana University-Indianapolis. Davis served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, participating in the North African campaign into Sicily. He was a self-taught plastics engineer and was past president of the Society of Plastic Engineering and past president of the American Society of Engineers. Davis was a member of the Pendleton First United Methodist Church and was a past commander of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Albert Davis. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha Davis, 9757 South State Road 9, Pendleton, IN 46064; son, Bert Davis; and two grandchildren, Allison Davis and Leon Davis. James A. “Jim” Colvin, 93, died November 14, 2012, in Indianapolis. Colvin attended Wabash for seven semesters and was a member of the Glee Club and Phi Gamma Delta. He also attended Indiana University and Indiana University School of Law. Following more than four years of service in the U.S. Army during World War II, Colvin became a special agent for the FBI in the Carolinas and New York City. He then began a private law practice in Indianapolis and was a part-time employee of the State of Indiana. He also served as a deputy prosecutor for Marion County.
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Colvin was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Robert Orr in 1984. In his spare time, Colvin enjoyed writing poetry and essays, photography, and woodworking, including fine furniture. In 1973, he constructed a replica of Noah’s Ark for the Indianapolis Zoo. Colvin was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, and daughter, Mary Anne Pethe. He is survived by his daughter, Catherine Sayre; granddaughters Alyssa Chopin and Priscilla Pethe, and three great-grandchildren. Haines Boots Lockhart, 90, died March 30, 2011, in Barrington, IL. Born October 29, 1920, in Crawfordsville, he was the son of Juanita and Lawrence Lockhart. While attending Wabash he was an independent, and he earned his doctorate at the University of Illinois, Champaign. A nutritional biochemist for Swift and Company who later retired from Quaker Oats in Barrington, Lockhart’s research was instrumental in developing the C-Rations used through World War II through today. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Ruth. He is survived by his children, Haines Lockhart Jr. ’67 and Anne Lockhart; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Shirl Doyle Wray, 92, died February 10, in Greentown, IN. Born September 10, 1920, in New Market, IN, he was the son of Chloe and Carl Wray. Wray was raised on the farm in New Market and while he attended Wabash he was a member of the Glee Club, Concert Band, and was an independent. He participated in the V-12 Program. He became a high school physics teacher and took a job in Gallup, NM, where he met his wife, Stella. He then moved back to Indiana and taught physics at Kokomo High School. In 1954, he began working at Delco Electronics and retired from there. His children wrote, “He was always studying and researching something. From developing a new design for a loudspeaker for Delco to a timeline of the Bible, he was always learning, thinking and making sense of the world around him.” Wray was preceded in death by his wife, Stella.
43 Stanley R. “Stan” Abbott, 91, died December 10, 2012, in Danville, IN. Born February 22, 1921, in Crawfordsville, he was the son of Gladys and Aben Abbott. Abbott graduated from New Ross (IN) High School and attended Wabash for two semesters. He also attended Purdue University. He worked for Alcoa in Lafayette, IN, as plant coordinator. In 1952, he purchased and relocated to a small farm south of Pittsboro, IN.
He worked in Indianapolis as a purchasing agent for many years at Armour and Company, Wm. H. Block Company, and M & E. Mfg. Company. Abbott was also general manager of the C.L. Miley Company and was in charge of the installation of the air handling system when the Indiana State Office Building was built. He then purchased and ran the Champion Mop Company for several years before returning to the farm in Hendricks County. Abbott grew up in the Mace Methodist Church and attended the Pittsboro Christian Church for many years. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Marcille Abbott, 2550 E. County Road 375 N. Danville, IN 46122; son, Jerry Abbott; and one granddaughter. Robert “Bob” Bracken, 91, died January 6 in Frankfort, IN. Born April 6, 1921, in Frankfort, he was the son of Margaret and Robert Bracken. Bracken attended Shortridge High School and graduated from Culver Summer School Naval Academy. While attending Wabash, he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He completed his education at Harvard Law School in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Administrative Corps. Bracken was an attorney in Frankfort from 1952 until his retirement in 1990. He was also prosecuting attorney for one term. Bracken was a member, deacon, elder and trustee of First Presbyterian Church, Frankfort, where he also taught adult Sunday school for 22 years. He was an Eagle Boy Scout, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Friends of the Library, a charter member of Frankfort Optimist, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. He was instrumental in obtaining and maintaining the written history of many area organizations. Bracken served as attorney for the Frankfort School Board for 22 years and president for one year. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Bracken, 701 Elmwood Drive, Frankfort, IN 46041; children, Robert Bracken and Sarah Porter; and one granddaughter. James Edward Whitridge, 92, died November 21, 2012, in Templeton, CA. Whitridge was born October 30, 1920, in Indianapolis. While attending Wabash, he was a psychology major and a member of Sigma Chi. He served for three years in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Whitridge joined a division of Standard Oil, where he became marketing development manager. He loved motor racing—when he was young, he and his brother climbed the fence to watch the Indianapolis 500. He also loved dogs and will be greatly missed by the two he leaves behind, Flora and Blossom.