Memorials

John Robert Buckley:  4/9/1954 - 8/12/2021

John Robert Buckley, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died on Thursday, August 12 at the age of 67. He was born April 9, 1954 to John C. Buckley and Elizabeth (Love) Buckley. He was a 1972 graduate of Speedway High School and received his BS in Allied Health Administration from IUPUI. John worked 11 years as a paramedic for Wishard Hospital, 23 years as a sales representative for GlaxoSmithKline, and 10 years as a marketing representative for Williams Brothers Healthcare. John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Linda (Wirts) Buckley; daughter, Adeline (Buckley) McDonald (husband, Anthony McDonald) of Front Royal, VA; son, Ben Buckley (fiancee, Melissa Fregoso) of Long Beach, CA; grandchildren, John, Magdalen, Patrick, and George McDonald; brother, Richard Buckley (wife, Mary); sisters, Joy West and Janice Agan (Roy Graham). He had a passion for fishing, traveling, homebrewing beer, and baking cookies. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh with family and friends. John volunteered for many years feeding the homeless downtown, and he was an active member at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Indianapolis. The funeral mass will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (address below) on Tuesday, August 17 at 10 am. The burial rite will follow at Sugarland Memorial Gardens in Washington, Indiana at 2:45 p.m. 

Malcomb B. MacArthur:  4/2/1954 - 8/3/2003

Malcolm "Mal" B. McArthur, 49, Speedway, died Aug. 3, 2003. He was born on April 2, 1954 to Malcolm "Mac" and Mary Jane McArthur, they preceded him in death. Mr. McArthur was an hourly employee with General Motors for 30 years at Allison's and Chevrolet. He married Janet (Braden) McArthur in 1977. He lived in Speedway all his life. he was a member of Speedway Christian Church, Prospect Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Murat Temple and NRA. Survivors include wife Janet; daughters Malissa and Monica; sons Matthew; brother Mike (Mary Jane) McArthur and sisters Mary Ann (John) Hayes, Nancy (Bill) Owen, Melinda (Lowell) Woods, Ellen (Ron) Mutzl. Calling will be at Conkle Funeral Home Speedway Chapel on Wed. Aug. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be a Masonic service at 7 p.m. on the night of the calling. Services will be at Speedway Christian Church on Thurs. Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Washington Park North Cemetery. 

Larry Wayne Mitchell:  01/1954 - 10/01/2021

Per his response in 1982, Larry Mitchell was married to Yasna A. Mitchell.  After graduating from Speedway High School, he earned an Associate degree in Architectural Engineering.  Larry subsequently formed his own company, South Florida Service Systems, performing contract design and fire system work for major restaurants and hotels in the area. 

Larry passed away on 10/1/2021 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Memory:  "Larry MItchell lived down the street from me, so we walked the same route to Wheeler each day.  Growing up, he was always a nice kid."

Margaret Irene Grande Haines:  8/10/1954 - 6/6/1987

Margaret Grande Haines, age 32, of Speedway, wife of Stephen R. Haines Sr., mother of Stephen R. Haines Jr, and Sara Elizabeth Haines, daughter of Robert and Dory Grande, sister of Robert Joseph Grande Jr., Elizabeth Shook, and Jennifer Grande, granddaughter of Nola Greenwood, Clara Maloney and Earl and Hazel Haines, also 3 nieces and 2 nephews, passed away Saturday.  Funeral service 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, CONKLE FUNERAL HOME SPEEDWAY CHAPEL, 4925 W. 16th St., and 10 a.m. Tuesday St. Christopher Catholic Church.  Rosary service 7 p.m. Monday. Visitation 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. Contributions to the American Cancer Society.

Memory:  "Always loved going to Margaret's house.  Lots of kids.  She taught me to ride her unicycle in the back.  Miss her." - Rachel Crowley Cabe.

Mark Stephen Hedge:  9/8/1953 - 8/20/1994

Per his response in 1982, Mark was married to his wife, Lisa, was a self-employed painter and owned his own company.  

Burial in Washington Park North Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Pamela Sue Lambert Howard: 08/24/1954 - 07/23/2015

Pamela S. Howard, 60, passed away July 23, 2015 with her family by her side. She was born August 24, 1954 in Indianapolis to Harold D. and Lila M. (Littrell) Lambert. Pamela had retired from Praxair Inc. after 25 years in accounting dept. and most recently was Credit Manager for Habegger Corp. She enjoyed singing and was a former member of Harmony Inc. and Sweet Adeline's and co-founder of Heart of Indiana Chorus. In earlier years she liked to bowl, cross stitch and always being with family. Pam is survived by her mother, Lila Lambert; sons, Rick (Michelle) Howard and Cory (Shawnna West) Howard; grandchildren, Bradley Howard, Tristen West, Jacob Seymour; great grandchild, Kaydence Seymour; brother, Scott (Peggy) Lambert and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Lambert; maternal grandparents, Dale and Opal Littrell and paternal grandparents, Louis and Rose Lambert. Visitation will be 4 until 8 pm Monday, July 27, 2015 with services 11 am Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at Flanner and Buchanan-Floral Park, 425 N. Holt Rd. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to IU Health Hospice. Online condolences may be shared at www.flannerbuchanan.com 

Memory:  "Pam Lambert Howard was one of my best friends in highschool.  She got me in a whole lot of trouble with her and her bowling friends."

Richard Michael Pico:  2/15/1954 - 7/26/2011

Richard Michael Pico 1954 - 2011 Richard passed away on Tuesday, July 26th at 6:05pm at the age of 57 at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver. He had been diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer the previous year and was undergoing chemotherapy. His loving wife, Sandra, was by his side through every moment of this difficult time and Richard remained strong and positive throughout his many treatments. It was only in the last few weeks that his condition rapidly declined and he experienced severe and chronic pain requiring palliative care. Richard maintained his grasp on consciousness just long enough to recognize and receive final visits from his son, Alex, and two sisters, Elly and Judy. While respecting his wish for privacy during this time, he was still surrounded by loving family members in his final moments. Richard was born and raised in Indiana to Albert and Shirley Pico with siblings Elly, Steve and Judy. Richard was a natural athlete. He had a particular passion for basketball, which he played competitively in high school and recreationally until the age of 40, when he tore his Achilles tendon. Growing up near the Indy 500 racetrack, Richard also developed an early appreciation for cars and engineering… and for driving fast. His affinity and avid appetite for science and science fiction also had firm roots in his childhood. After graduating from high school, Richard joined the Air Force, got married, and moved to California to start a family. He worked on rocket systems while stationed at Vandenberg AFB (where Alex was born) and Johnston Island. But his primary focus was on the educational opportunities offered by the Air Force. While in California, he completed a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Experimental Psychology, followed by a PhD in Neuroscience, studying learning and memory, and finally a medical degree specializing in Psychiatry and clinical research. He concluded his military career with the rank of Major at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, where he was developing novel metrics for diagnosing schizophrenia using 3D brain imaging. Richard then moved to NYC, where he accepted a position as director of Inpatient Psychiatric Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center. It was in New York that his theory of human brain function took form, synthesizing his early thoughts on Einstein’s relativity theory, his training in Psychology and Neuroscience, and his insights from working with patients, ultimately leading to the publication of Consciousness in Four Dimensions: Biological Relativity and the Origins of Thought. While in New York, he also took on a new challenge, working for the first time outside the academic and clinical setting as vice president of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer for the technology subsidiary of Empire BlueCross BlueShield. On September 11, 2001, in his office on the 19th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center, Richard felt the explosive collision of Flight 11. Many thought it was an earthquake, but having lived in California, Richard knew it was something else. He evacuated his team from the building and persuaded many from other floors and the immediate area to evacuate. He was clear and out of sight of the towers by the time they collapsed. Less than a year later, Richard was hired on as Chief Medical and Technology Officer for Perot Systems Healthcare group in Dallas, Texas. This was a custom-made position that utilized his strengths in research and development, his clinical experience and his vision for technology solutions in healthcare. Richard launched Péradigm, a suite of applications that facilitate communication between healthcare providers, insurers and resources, ultimately aimed at lowering costs to patients. The job required a lot of travel, both global and domestic. Serendipitously, this is how he met Sandra, who had worked for 20 years in the airline industry. In October of 2005, they married (or rather, eloped) in a beautiful ceremony for two in Maui. Together, they moved to Vancouver, Canada. Richard transitioned back to the clinical setting, taking a position as Head of the Department of Psychiatry with Providence Heath Care at St. Paul’s Hospital. He simultaneously held a Senior Advisory title for Clinical IT at the Provincial Health Services Authority and a Clinical Professor faculty position at UBC. He brought a fresh vision and drive through these administrative roles. He was in the midst of outlining two new volumes in what was intended to be a multifaceted series on Biological Relativity, in addition to his ongoing career opportunities, when he was diagnosed stage 4 colon cancer. As everyone who knew him can attest, Richard was a vibrant force with his professional and scholarly achievements, his considerate and generous heart, and his deep intellect and insight. The world is a less interesting place without him. We will miss him dearly.

Sandra Niederhauser Knerr:  9/24/1954 - 6/5/2009

Sandra Niederhauser Knerr, beloved wife of Charles Richard Knerr, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2009. Memorials: The family requests that donations be made in Sandra's name to your local abused women's shelter. Sandra was born on Sept. 24, 1954, in Indianapolis, Ind., to John Owen and Madeline Niederhauser. She was the daughter-in-law of Anna Knerr of Midwest City, Okla. Sandra was preceded in death by both of her parents. Survivors: Sandi will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Charles Knerr; brothers, Donald Niederhauser and wife, Lana, of Speedway, Ind., and their son, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kyle Niederhauser, J. Brian Niederhauser and wife, Donna, of Indianapolis, Ind., and their children and grandchildren, Gayle Ketchem and husband, Jon, of Indianapolis, Ind., and their daughters, Madeline and Annabelle and Tamara Perez and husband, Oscar, of Indianapolis, Ind., and their children, Miranda, Natalie, Sarina and Arden and John "Jay" Brian Niederhauser II of Speedway, Ind., and his daughter, Megan. 

Stephen Wayne Minor:  1954 - 1975

Suzanne Raye Dault Mueller:  12/1/1954 - 4/5/2021

Suzanne (Suzie) Dault Mueller, the daughter of the late Ray and Joyce Dault, passed away in Denver after a long illness.  She grew up in Speedway and loved hearing the sounds of race cars while at home.  Suzie worked at the Indianapolis Speedway Museum during high school and college.  She graduated from the Indiana University School of Nursing and began her nursing career at Methodist Hospital.  She moved to Denver in the late 1970's where she continued working as a nurse and then at Volunteers of America where she specialized in working with senior citizens. Suzie loved her older adults, greyhound dogs, flower arranging, and gardening.  She is survived by many cousins and friends.  A Celebration of Life Service was held in Denver.  Should you want to make a donation in her name, please go to www.greyhoundadoption.com.

Memory:  "I was in Girl Scouts with Suzie Dault. Her mom was our leader.  Many fond Girl Scout memories."

Thomas E. Sutphin: 10/28/1953 - 1/5/2002 

THOMAS E. SUTPHIN, 48, Indianapolis, died Jan. 5. He was a lineman 28 years for Indianapolis Power & Light Co., retiring as crew leader. Burial. Maple Hill Cemetery. Plainfield, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA. Memorial ID, 89684161 

Thomas W. Tubbs, Jr.: 1954 - 7/18/2017

Thomas W. Tubbs, Jr. passed away on July 18, 2017 in Marietta, Georgia. Tom is survived by his wife, Kathy; his sister, Tracy Potter; his father, Tom Sr.; and nieces, Katie Dolder, Karie Treadwell and Lindsey Manford. A Celebration of Life will be held at "The Reserve at Timbers Edge" Club House, 880 Ravenwood Drive, Greenwood, Indiana on August 12 from two to four p.m. All friends and family are invited. 

William P. Ruckman: 9/14/1953 - 4/10/2011

William P. Ruckman Beloved father, brother, and Lafayette physician passed on early Sunday morning of a severe heart attack while vacationing in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Bill was born in Gary, IN on September 14, 1953, to the late Charles and Willa (Truax) Ruckman. He graduated from Speedway High School and went on to complete both his undergraduate and medical degrees at Indiana University. He finished his medical training at Ohio State University in their Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program. He was best known professionally for his outstanding surgical ability and the compassion with which he served all of his patients. He delivered care to the Greater Lafayette community for 27 years as a partner of the Woman's Clinic and was instrumental in bringing labor epidurals and other obstetric anesthesia services to Lafayette. He particularly enjoyed his associations with Leadership Lafayette, the Lafayette Ski Club and the Elks Country Club. Recently retired, Bill had been traveling extensively and writing a book that detailed the spiritual experiences of the latter years of his life. Among those experiences were visits with the Dalai Lama, healing ceremonies with a Lakota Sioux medicine man, and mission trips to Belize, Brazil, and Mexico. Plans were in place to publish the book so that all could take part in his journey. He cherished nothing more than his three children, Chris, Matt, and Julie. His fondest memories were of the vacationing, coaching, and celebrating that he did with the three of them. He was preceded in death by his son, Chris, and his sister, Victoria. He is survived by his children Matt and Julie (fiancé Cory Long), his brothers Chuck (wife Peggy) and Jim (wife Sherry), and his significant other Rachel Wilmington. He will be forever loved and deeply missed by them among others as he was a special, special man. Bill's family will receive friends Saturday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Hippensteel Funeral Home, Lafayette, IN and one hour prior to the service of celebration Sunday 3:00 p.m. in the Federated Church of West Lafayette, 2400 Sycamore Lane, with Dr. Brian Nelson officiating. Interment will follow at Spring Vale Cemetery, next to his son, Chris. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to The Ruckman Foundation, established in his honor to promote the health and well-being of others. Hippensteel Funeral Home entrusted with care. Share memories and condolences online at: hippensteel funeralservice.com.

Memory:  "Bill Ruckman was one of the nicest guys I knew at Speedway."

Pamela Jo McNelly Matheney: 8/28/1954 - 4/12/2019

Pamela "Pam" Jo Matheney, age 64, of Brownsburg, Indiana passed away on Friday April 12, 2019. Pam was born on August 28, 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Joann and Carl McNelly.

Pam worked as a medical coder for St. Vincent Hospital for many years before retiring. She was confirmed at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ. Pam enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

Pam is survived by her sons, Rodney Alan (Caitlyn Cozart) Matheney and Jeremy Lee (Amber) Matheney; mother, Joann McNelly; brother, Rod (Karen) McNelly; sisters, Carla (John) Parent and Sandy (Doug) Lindamood; grandchildren, Braxton Matheney, Quienton Ingram, Rowben Matheney, Peyton Matheney and Cohen Matheney; and many nieces and nephews. Pam was preceded in death by her father, Carl McNelly.

A memorial visitation for Pam will be held on Monday, April 15, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Family Funeral Care-Rockville West, 5791 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana 46224.

Keith Everett Light: 9/9/1954 - 2/16/2017

Keith Everett Light age 62 of Enterprise Road passed away Thursday, February 16th 2017 at The Brian Center of Lexington. A memorial service will be held 7:00 pm Monday, February 20th 2017 at Hope Community Church with Bishop Paul Lanier officiating. The family will receive friends 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the church prior to the service. Keith was born September 9th 1954 in Marion County to Harold Light and Evelyn Wilson Light. He was a member of Hope Community Church and employed with Special Fab Inc. He was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his wife Debra Beck Light and daughter Lauren Light of the home; brothers, Mark Light (Cindy), Troy Light (Cindy) both of Crawfordville, IN; Craig Light (Billie) of Indianapolis, IN; Brian Light (Nora) of Noblesville, IN; sister Pamela Brooks (Courtney) of Indianapolis, IN. The family would like memorials sent to: Hope Community Church, 4660 Brownsboro Road, Winston Salem, NC 27106 or charity of choice. Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel is assisting the family.

Carey Michael Crittenden: 11/23/1953 - 8/20/2022

Carey Michael Crittenden sadly took his last breath on the 20th day of August, 2022, at the age of 68.  Carey is survived by his daughters Amber and Jennifer, his grandchild Grace, as well as his companion, Amber.  Carey loved to laugh, and he enjoyed the little things in life like the smell of rain, a home-cooked meal shared with his family, and the laughter of his children.  Carey was a very compassionate and empathetic person.  He understood the importance of loving well and that he did.  Special thanks to the staff at the Franciscan Hospice House for the wonderful support for Carey and his family.  He will continue to be a part of our lives and hearts forever.

Carey Crittenden attended Ball State University and said his degree had been 'life and experience".  Over the years, Carey had been active in a variety of pursuits.  He worked at Joseph's shoes, was the Assistant Manager at Zales Jewelers, and was the Manager at CMC Stereo.  He then worked for Allstate Insurance Company for 3 1/2 years and subsequently opened his own insurance agency.  In 2008, he became an Assembly Associate at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC, in Greenwood, IN.

Arrangements have been entrusted to The Cremation Society of Indiana, 4115 Shelby Street.

David Harrison Blind:  12/26/1953 - 04/05/2023

David Harrison Blind, 69 of Carmel passed away April 5, 2023 at Ascencion Health-Carmel Hospital.  David was born December 26, 1953 in Indianapolis to Harrison and Beth (Diershaw) Blind.  He was a Notary Public working in the real estate industry.  Previously he had worked as a long term care insurance sales representative for General Electric. .  David was a member of Fellowship in Christ Church in Carmel. He was also a Marine Corps veteran.    He is survived by his wife, Ann Elizabeth (Horning) Blind; daughters, Christina Gonzalez, Ruth (Joe) Dildine; sister, Mary Beth (Ernie) Curtis; grandchildren, Cory Maddy, Kevin Maddy, James Gonzalez, Paige Gonzalez, Austin Strange, Andrew Dildine, Jackson Spears, and Elizabeth Dildine.  Memorial services for David are 5pm Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Fellowship in Christ Church, 310 N. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032.  Online condolences may be offered at usherfuneralhome.com.

Craig Warrick Smith:  08/24/1954 - 05/19/2023

Craig Warrick Smith passed away peacefully on May 19, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He was 68.

Craig was born on August 24, 1954, to Claude W. and Melvina Smith in Speedway, Indiana. Following graduation from Speedway High School in 1972, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where his accomplishments included making the Dean's list.  His career path eventually led him into management. He put his analytical and communication skills to good use as a finance manager for a local auto dealership, where he was employed for 24 years before his retirement in 2019.

Craig was often seen by others as a quiet person, but his life was anything but quiet. He had a tremendous sense of humor and was always ready to laugh at others’ jokes, toss out his own clever witticisms, and even laugh at "his own darn self" (he never took himself too seriously). He was a true “philomath,” a lover of learning, who read constantly and could beat the pants off of you in trivia. He followed current events and political issues and enjoyed seeing the publication of his comments in the editorial section of the New York Times. While he was still working, he was very dedicated to his job and worked long hours but took time to enjoy local wineries as well as traveling with his wife Aniko and family.

Craig was a lifetime sports enthusiast whose interests ran the gamut from motor sports to tennis. He sank his share of layups, got on base, snuck the football into the end zone, made saves at the net, birdied, and reeled in big fish, but his real talent in sports proved to be fantasy football. Craig’s in-depth analysis of studs and stats enabled him to draft the best players, consistently reach the playoffs, and frequently win the league. As a result of this over “anal-ysis,” his FFB record may be the most enviable in the current era. Craig was also a capable, creative, and decisive Fantasy Football Commissioner for the family league, who constantly worked to ensure enjoyment, success, fair play, and cut-throat competition. Because of his cunning as an owner and the distinction with which he served as our commissioner, Craig will absolutely go down in history as one of the greatest participants to ever step foot on the Fantasy gridiron.

Craig had a true gift for writing, and he shared his personal insights about life, love, happiness and, sometimes, football in a weekly message to the league. Funny, touching, sarcastic, and often profound, the blog includes dozens of articles - articles like "A PRIEST, A FISH, AND A COWBOY WALK INTO A BAR," "ELON," and "WHAT IF???” – which have been compiled into the “Book of Craig” to share in perpetuity. 

Last but not least, Craig had a genuine love and respect for others that started with his own family and friends, and he was an example for us all in that regard. The oldest of four children, Craig was the epitome of a big brother. He was always there for his younger brothers, sister, and stepsons who considered him not just a brother or step-father, but also their close friend.  Craig will be greatly missed by his wife Aniko, stepsons Tommy Koranyi and George (Jenny) Koranyi, grandson Josh Koranyi, brother David Smith, sister Amy (Jeff Moody) Smith, sister-in-law Edit, and beloved nieces, nephew, great nephew, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Doug Smith, and nephew Hunter Smith.

A celebration of life will be held for family and friends at the Brass Rail in Weldon Spring, MO, on June 24, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to organizations researching Multiple Sclerosis and cancer, such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://www.nationalmssociety… and/or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. 

It is said that in ancient Egypt, on the outside of tomb walls (the façade), there would be a prayer something like this: “Oh passerby, stop and read my name. It causes you nothing but is a blessing.” Please download the Book of Craig (https://bdhammer2288.wixsite.…) and peruse it as you have time to spare.  And send up a short prayer for Craig, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend: May the photos and memories shared here be a blessing to us all and help keep Craig’s happy memory alive in our hearts!    

Joan Milakis Love:  9/25/1954 - 9/8/2023

Joan (Milakis) Love, 68, of Brownsburg, passed away September 8, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. Joan was born on September 25, 1954 to William and Angeline “Joie” Milakis. She was a graduate of Speedway High School. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Having fought many serious health trials throughout her life, Joan never let them define her and never lost her faith in God’s goodness. She always put others before herself and was the strongest person her family will ever know. Joan’s gentle and sweet spirit will be dearly missed by her husband of 48 years, Jerry Love; children Brent (Kelly) Love and Kristi (Nate) Flynn; sister Georgeann (Panos) Niarchos and twin sister Janet (Charlie) Sauter; grandchildren Camerin, Carson, Sophie, Zeke, and Theo; great granddaughter Flora; and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. There will be a private family service.