Wednesday, April 23, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Pope Francis Commemorated Locally
St. Joseph Catholic School students and adults from St. Joseph and St. Vincent Catholic churches gather for the beginning of a nine-day mourning period on Monday. The towers at both churches sounded 88 times in honor of Pope Francis, who died Monday morning at age 88. | photo by JACK BOYCE
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works yesterday took under advisement bids to demolish buildings on the first block of W. Broadway. The bids range from $247,950 to $537,000. The Board of Works also accepted a $212,583.44 bid for AK Construction to expand the concessions area at Sunrise Park, which will include updating restrooms, expanding the structure and providing ADA accessibility.
The Shelbyville High School prom court has been named. Those nominated for prom queen are Alisa Fisher, Emma Claxton, Hannah Baker and Sydney Haehl. Prom king candidates are: Brady Bryant, Brant Davis, Caden Claxton and Cole Schene.
Editor’s note: Today’s Courier highlights were removed to allow for additional obituaries. The feature will return in tomorrow’s edition.
HOOSIER NEWS: Harrison County Hospital’s obstetric department, which closed this month, is one of over a dozen that have shut down statewide since 2020. At Harrison County Hospital, the issue wasn’t fewer deliveries. The department performed up to 400 deliveries a year. However, both of the hospital’s OB providers left, and recruitment efforts to replace them were unsuccessful. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Car break-ins in San Francisco have plunged from 28,500 in 2017 to 8,500 last year thanks to a focused police crackdown, but it’s created a new kind of victim: the auto glass shops that serviced cars with glass shattered by thieves. One garage owner reported they used to get as many as 80 calls a day and now get around 20. (Morning Brew)
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: A building dedication was held for the new Sugar Creek Masonic Lodge, the only lodge building built in Shelby County over the previous 100 years. The Sugar Creek group had formed in 1862.
1995: A county man was injured when his pickup truck struck a freight train at a railroad crossing at State Roads 52 and 9. The train dragged the man’s truck about three feet until the truck struck the pole of the crossing light.
1985: Shelbyville High School defeated North Decatur, 16-1, for its first-ever softball win. Melinda Vogel, Stephanie Haskins and Mindy Settles hit homeruns. Karen Bowman was the coach. Thirteen Bears played, and the team’s only absentee was Angie Mathies, who was sidelined by a bad sunburn.
1975: The county plan commission approved Billman Estates, a 16-lot subdivision to be located on Morristown Road near 425 N.
1965: Sen. Birch Bayh urged the Interior Department to establish a “Bears of Blue River Wild Life Preserve.” He then noted that Blue River, a tributary of the Ohio, “flows through Harrison County, Ind.” The Shelbyville News noted that “there IS a Blue River in Harrison County, Senator, but not THE Blue River where Charles Major’s bears romped of yore - and a lot of people here in Shelby County aren’t going to like the idea of giving up on one of their literary heritages.”
1955: Local post office officials announced plans to inspect county mailboxes. They asked that all mail boxes be painted white with the name of the resident inscribed in black letters. Postmaster Louie Neu encouraged residents to “Look at your mailbox. Everyone else does.”
1945: Camp Atterbury posted an ad in local newspapers asking for applications for bar tenders, cafeteria counter girls, fountain girls and sales clerks. “Those presently employed in an essential industry need not apply.”
1935: Two bandits who shot a New Bethel filling station operator after burglarizing James Kaylor’s bakery in St. Paul were captured in the City of Shelbyville garage by Patrolmen Russell Clapp and Walter Wintin.
1925: Girls elected May Queen candidates at Shelbyville High School were Mary Frances Byrum, Mary Meloy, Josephine Mardis, Helen Williams, Virginia Clark, Emma Louise Chandler and Irene Neeb.
1915: State officials said one out of every eight deaths in Indiana over the previous six years was due to consumption (tuberculosis).
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Betty J. Clayton, 75, former Shelbyville resident, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, with her loving daughters by her side, at Majestic Care in North Vernon. Born November 24, 1949, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of Joseph Planck and Mary (Marcum) Planck. She
married David E. Clayton on September 19, 1970 and he preceded her on March 15, 2023. Survivors include two daughters, Stephanie Bishop (Alex) of Elizabethtown, Ind., and Susie Begley (Ryan) of Austin, Ind.; a son, Andrew Clayton of Indianapolis; sister, Wilma Carroll (Robert) of Jeffersonville; and two grandchildren, Scarlet and Mallarie Clayton of Indianapolis. She was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse.
Mrs. Clayton had lived in this area for most of her lifetime and graduated from Waldron High School in 1968. She was a homemaker, but in the 1980s she had owned and operated Clayton's Country Flowers for several years, and had also worked as an aide with Blue River Special Education for several years. Betty enjoyed traveling with her husband, golfing, going to the casino, dining out with her family, and spending time with her daughters.
No services will be observed at this time. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to: Majestic Memory Care, 701 Henry Street, North Vernon, Ind., 47265, in care of Krissy Brewer. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Dr. Donald Eugene Wortman, of Rockville, Md., passed away Tuesday morning, April 15, 2025, at the age of 91. He was born March 18, 1934, in Morristown, Ind., and had an eventful childhood, which he wrote about in his self-published autobiography, “A Hoosier Boy’s Journey.” He learned many hands-on skills from working on a farm and at his father’s hardware store. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class and was a competitive athlete in cross country, basketball, and track and field.
Don graduated from Butler University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics on the GI Bill after serving in the Army during the Korean War. Drawing on his math background, Don continued to Indiana University to study physics, finishing his Ph.D. in record time despite having had no prior undergrad courses in the subject. He was among the first to use computers to analyze data so that he got results in a fraction of the usual time. Don enjoyed his experimental physics work tremendously and made lifelong friends in graduate school and at his jobs. His numerous patents had applications in the medical field, agriculture, and as well as detectors, semiconductor lasers, and imaging devices for penetrating fog and smoke.
He lived simply and contentedly, staying active by hiking, jogging, gardening, and chores. He liked to watch pro football and college basketball, especially enjoying March Madness. Don and wife Maria’s large yard was a source of fresh, organic food and Eden-like beauty.
He is survived by his loving wife Maria, his children Brian (Yvonne) Wortman, Deborah (Fred) Towner, Melissa DuBoyce, George (Sharon) Karayianis, Konstantine Karayianis, and 14 grandchildren. He also leaves behind siblings Robert Wortman, William (Faye) Wortman, and Janet Wortman, and his aunt Helen Jean Kilby as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held at Silo Falls in Brookeville, Md., on Saturday, May 10, between 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Jackie L. Leffler, 91, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, April 18, 2025 at his residence. Born on August 19, 1933, he was the son of Charles H. Leffler and Helen Priscilla (Bruce) Leffler. He married Margie (Jackson) Leffler on August 9, 1985, and she preceded him in death in January of 2018 after 33 years of marriage. He had also been married to Glendora (Kuhn) Leffler who was the mother of his children. Survivors include two children, Scott Leffler (Reva) of Florida and Todd Leffler (Crissy) of Shelbyville; stepchildren Karen Croseley of Greencastle, Jack England (LeeAnn) of Fortville, Terry England (Melisa) of Indianapolis, and Gary England of Stilesville; two brothers, Jerry Leffler of Shelbyville and Gary Leffler (Christine) of Shelbyville; 10 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; his spouses; three sons, Mark, Michael and Jack Leffler; daughter Marna Johns; stepdaughter Janice Williams; grandson Allen Eversole; granddaughter Tina Kelp; daughter-in-law Judy England; and siblings Phyllis O'Brien, Beverly Caudell, Charles “Sonny” Leffler, Bill Leffler and Sherry Ramey.
Jackie was a lifetime resident of this area and was a truck driver for many years, for several different companies, retiring from Royal Foods of Indianapolis. He was a US Air Force Veteran. Jack enjoyed playing softball in younger years, pitching horseshoes, woodworking, and loved his dog Lucy. He was a loving husband to his wife Margie, and all of his family. He had a lot of wonderful neighbors and friends who were always there for him. He was always tinkering and junking and never knew an idle moment. He also enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle.
Funeral services will be Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 3 p.m., at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road with Rev. Jody England officiating. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery with military rites conducted by the American Legion. Family will receive friends on Thursday afternoon from 1:00 pm until the time of the service, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Charles “Chuck” Richardson, 63, of Shelbyville, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at Community South Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born July 20, 1961, in Shelbyville, the son of Ernest and Janet (Andis) Richardson. On November 30, 1984, he married his wife of 40 years, Molly Foster, and she survives. In addition to Molly, Chuck is survived by his daughters, Brianna Wetrick and husband, Brandon, and Betsy Shonk and husband, Joseph, both of Shelbyville, and Brooke Rohlfing and husband, Kevin, of Bargersville; brothers, Bill Richardson and wife, Laura, Richard Richardson and wife, Missy, and Doug Richardson, all of Shelbyville, and Kyle Richardson and wife, Catlyn, of St. Paul; grandchildren, Sierra, Lyndsey, Logan, Addysyn and Alexa; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jennie Richardson; and brothers, Dennis Richardson and Jimmy Richardson.
Chuck was an autobody painter at Laibe Corporation in Indianapolis, for over 30 years, retiring in 2015. He enjoyed hot rods and race cars. Chuck had an extensive collection of Hot Wheels and loved going to flea markets.
A Celebration of Chuck’s life will be held at a later date. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St., in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Twisted Toy Drive. Online condolences may be shared with Chuck’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Floyd Wayne Conover, 85, of Shelbyville, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. He was born June 8, 1939, in Shelby County, the son of Owen and Boneta (Poole) Conover. On January 16, 1964, he married Nancy Arleen Cooper, and she preceded him in death on February 9, 2002. Floyd is survived by his daughters, Tammy Fannin and husband, Duane, and Deborah Adams and husband, Steven, both of Franklin; grandchildren, Robert Taddario and wife, Abigail, Megan Pittman and husband, Andrew, Nicholas Fannin and wife, Samantha, and Zachary Fannin; great-grandchildren, Macie, Katalina, Anthony, Vincent, Brooklynn, Lydia and Phineas; and companion, Donna Sue Scott. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Lloyd Conover, Kenny Conover and Donald Conover.
In 1957, Floyd graduated from Waldron High School. Floyd was a U.S. Army veteran. He retired from Indiana Gas, as a pipefitter on July 31, 2001, with over 30 years of service. Floyd enjoyed trimming trees and going hunting and fishing .
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St., in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at noon, with Rev. Bill Horner officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Association of Shelby County, PO Box 844, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Floyd’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.