April 30, 1938 – November 26, 2018
Carroll Lavon Reddick, 80, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, November 26, 2018, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Carthage, Ind. Born in Boone County, Ind., on April 30, 1938, he was the son of the late Clarence and Edna (Wills) Reddick.
Carroll graduated from Sheridan High School on January 20, 1956, and not too long after that, he was aboard the USS Randolph CVA 15 Attack Cruiser, serving his country with the U.S. Navy during the Lebanese Crisis as a fuel man for the aircraft. When his service in the Navy came to an end, Carroll hired on with Western Electric as a material handler for seven years before hiring on with the GM/Allison Transmission Plant in Indianapolis. Carroll dedicated 27 years of service as a transmission mechanic and inspector with Allison before taking his retirement in 1993.
He was a member of the Sheridan First Christian Church, the Terhune Odd Fellows Lodge, and a retired member of the UAW Local 933.
Carroll had many interests in life. Perhaps all the years he spent at Allison around all of the large equipment, or possibly his years in the Navy working around the aircraft, drew Carroll toward operating heavy equipment. He loved to farm, but even more than that, he loved operating large pieces of machinery out in the fields. There was planting season, harvest season, and when the weather changed over to what most people consider cold and horrible, he was like a kid on Christmas, because that meant the beginning of snow plow season. This gave Carroll the chance to hop in a Hancock County plow truck, turn on some old time country music, put on his trademark ball cap, and move snow to his heart’s content. He loved helping others and plowing snow, whether it was for the county, or digging out his neighbors with his own equipment. It was one of the ways he got to look out for the people he cared about.
Carroll was also a huge sports fan. He closely followed his Pacers and Colts, but college basketball was where the thrill was at for him. He was a world class statistician. It was a familiar sight to find him on the floor in front of the TV keeping track of every players’ stats. From the Sheridan Blackhawks to the pros, Carroll had stats on everybody. And when March Madness rolled around, Carroll was in his element. If there was a bracket to fill out, he had his hands, not to mention his stat book, all over it. Carroll was also a racing fan. He loved following NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt’s early years. For many seasons, Carroll had the honor of holding the coveted position that many race fans dream about doing at some point in their lives, working as a “Yellow Shirt” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This gave him yet another chance to trade stories and talk about stats with fans from all over the world.
Whenever he got the chance, he loved heading up to Michigan in the fall to go fishing for coho salmon.
As Carroll’s health started to fail, instead of heading out into the fields, he put his love of statistics to good use, monitoring crop production while watching everything through his window. And when he just wanted to relax and enjoy some television, nothing fit the bill like RFD TV. He loved watching Larry’s Country Diner and the Country Family Reunion.
Carroll is survived by his loving wife, Donna Sue (Purcell) Reddick. She and Carroll were married on September 25, 1965. Also surviving are his three daughters, Kristina Louise Wine (Stan), Greenfield, Michelle René Wheatley (Stephen), and Tresha Marie Reddick, both of Sparta, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Courtney René Wheatley, Clarksville, Tenn., Patrick Elijah Wheatley and Laura Meredith Willard, both of Sparta, Tenn.; three brothers, Donald Gene Reddick (Maxine), Lyle Richard Reddick (Pat) and William Lynn Reddick, all of Noblesville; six sisters, Virginia Ruth Miller, Sheridan, Mary Rose Martin, Indianapolis, Marcella Ann Edwards (John), New Palestine, Nancy Sue Morris (Darrell), Noblesville, Linda Lou Lewis (Jim), Westfield, and Beverly Irene Teuscher, Kokomo. Carroll is also survived by his two canine BFFs, his Jack Russell, Buckwheat and his Chihuahua, Kneena. Both of them were by his side until the very end.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Janet Lyn; three brothers; one sister; and by his first wife, Sharon Ann (Unger) Reddick on August 14, 1964.
Services with Military Honors will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan, with visitation from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Middlefork Cemetery in Clinton County. Pastor Fred Girdwood of Shiloh Christian Church in Greenfield will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to Kercheval Funeral Home, P.O. Box 42, Sheridan, IN 46069, for the benefit of the Reddick Family.
Arrangements
Calling: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 8
Service: 1 p.m., Dec. 8
Location: Kercheval Funeral Home
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com