- Date Of Birth: November 9, 1920
- Date Of Death: October 31, 2012
- State: Indiana
Gilbert T.
He met Betty Jane Coates at Wilson Junior High School in 1934, and he used to walk her home from school. They became pals and buddies and married, May 27, 1937, while attending Muncie Central High School and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in May.
He was a hard worker. During his junior high school years he worked for an uncle in the concession stand at Heekin Park, and also ran a motion picture projector for another uncle every Thursday night at the movies. During high school he worked at the Old Liberty Theatre on South Walnut Street making and selling popcorn while also being an usher.
After their marriage he worked at the Ball Brothers box department for six years before being hired by the Nickle Plate Railroad, (now the Norfolk and Southern Railroad), as a telegraph operator. He continued working in Ohio, Portland, IN, and Indianapolis, IN. He became a freight agent and telegraph operator in Hartford City, IN, finishing thirty-five years on the railroad retiring in December of 1977.
His hobby for sixty-seven years was amateur radio with the call letters W9BZI. He was trustee of the Delaware Amateur Radio Club, and he had worked with the Delaware County Civil Defense.
Mr.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; his daughter, Donna Lephart, Muncie; two granddaughters, Melinda Shackelfurd, (fiance, Terrence Stump), Muncie, and Kelly Collicco, (husband, Tony), Winter Park, Florida; six great-grandchildren, Matthew and Alex Shackelfurd, Muncie, and Jessica, Chelesta, Adena and Anthony Collicco, Winter Park, Florida; his half-sister, Maxine Ashton, (husband, Francis), Middletown; three special cousins, Dewela Hole Niccum, Howard Hole and David Collins; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Patty Reading and her husband Donald Reading; half-brother, Durwood Rager; and half-sister, Mona Hart, and her husband, A.D., and his uncle, Rev. Dewey Hole, and his wife, Lillian.
Whitney Lodge No. 229, F. & A.M.
