- Date Of Birth: December 18, 1967
- Date Of Death: December 16, 2021
- State: Indiana
Christopher Adrian Yingling, 53, was born in Columbus, Ohio, on December 18, 1967, to Mary Nicewander Yingling and Richard Terry Yingling. After graduating from Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, he studied biology at Indiana University.
A lifelong music afficionado, Chris managed the hard rock band Snakeskin Cowboy, which was fronted by his best friend, Jimmy Cain. Chris also worked as a manager at Crackers Comedy Club in Broad Ripple, as well as a graphic designer and IT specialist at Kinko’s.
As an expert aquarist, Chris was a key advisor and conservator in one of Indiana’s most ambitious aquarium initiatives; a multi-year artifact conservation project from the wreckage of Captain Kidd’s Quedagh Merchant ship which sank off the coast of the Dominican Republic in 1699. Utilizing a lengthy treatment, called electrolytic reduction, his team was able to stabilize the artifacts for public viewing after 300 years in ocean water. The artifacts were exhibited in the National Geographic Treasures of the Earth exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in 2011.
Most recently, Chris had his own custom aquarium business and also worked as a beloved aquarist at The Reef Aquarium Shop where regular customers always asked for “Ying” to help them find the perfect fish or aquatic setup for their homes.
Chris was a gentle soul who was free-spirited, honest, loving and humorous. In addition to his passion for music and aquariums, he loved sports cars, movies, and animals, particularly his three Shih Tzus, Toshi, Frosty and Tweedy, and his “chonky” and hilariously talkative cat, Tommy.
He loved communicating with the ones he was close to and hearing their voice, so he spent hours taking to family and friends on the telephone each day. He was always guaranteed to make those around him laugh and feel special. Chris was one of a kind and loved by many. He will be immensely missed.
Chris is survived by his son Erik Yingling of Carmel and daughter Selena Ward of Indianapolis; his life partner and fiancée Laura Ward of Indianapolis; his sisters Adrienne Mullinax of Sanford, NC and Jessica (Bob) Yingling of Santa Monica, CA; his uncles Alan (Patricia) Nicewander of Monterey, CA, Kurt (Susan) Nicewander of Port Hueneme, CA, Jack (Jane) Yingling of Hershey, PA; his aunt Sue Zinser of Auburndale, FL; his nephew Evan Aldridge of Durham, NC; his niece Leah Aldridge of Apex, NC; and his cousins Tracey (James) Reed of Three Forks, MT, Robert Nicewander of Phoenix, AZ, David (Sheri) Nicewander of Dallas, TX, Brent Nicewander of Pittsburgh, PA, Elizabeth (Grant) Baesman of Denver, CO, Karen (Chris) Higgins of Austin, TX, Jordan (Gloria) Yingling of Los Angeles, CA, and Lisa (Daniel) Parker of Webster, FL.
Preceding Chris in death were his beloved parents, Richard and Mary, as well as his cousin, Justin Yingling.
