Date Of Birth: September 10, 1928
Date Of Death: April 30, 2013
Edward Eugene (“Gene�) English, 84, of Indianapolis, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. Born on September 10, 1928 in Anderson, Indiana, he was the youngest of three sons born to John Cary English of Versailles, Ohio and Ellen Bennehoff English of Anderson, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Bob & Bill English, both of Dallas, Texas, and his wife of nearly 55 years, Mary Jane Huffer English, whom he wed on November 21, 1954 at Broadway United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. He is survived by his children, Edward English, Cheryl Berry, Bill English & his wife Kathy, his beloved grandchildren David & Anna English, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gene was raised in Indianapolis where he attended the James Whitcomb Riley Elementary School and Shortridge High School (class of 1946). He graduated from Indiana University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate. He was Air Force ROTC in high school and college and subsequently served two years of active duty from 1951 to 1953 as a First Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. An accomplished musician, he grew up singing in the bass section of the choir at Broadway United Methodist Church where his mother was the organist. He played the trombone in the marching band at Shortridge High School, and throughout high school and college he played the upright bass professionally and dearly loved the big-band era of music. Just weeks prior to his passing he was still playing his beloved bass in the orchestra at East 91st Street Christian Church. In his professional career, Gene was a pioneer in the field of commercial real estate mortgages and arranged for the financing of numerous apartment projects, office buildings and retail properties throughout Indiana.
A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 11th at Indiana Funeral Care (www.IndianaFuneralCare.com) in the Harry W. Moore Chapel. Visitation with the family will be held for two hours prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heritage Christian Elementary School where Gene’s wife, Mary Jane, was a teacher and principal for 37 years (www.HeritageChristian.net).
Cheryl Bob Megan and Ashley Davis says
Please know that we have you in our thoughts and prayers at this unhappy time.
Matt Morris says
To Gene’s friends and family, I knew him for several years through our involvement on the house corporation for Delta Tau Delta at IU. I learned a lot about his wife, Mary, as she and my wife were both teachers. While Gene and I were 30 years apart from our years at IU in our fraternity, I know it meant a lot to him. My family joins me in extending our condolences. Matt Morris, Indianapolis
John Berck says
Mr. English will be greatly missed by our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We are all so very sorry for their loss.
Paul and Jan Woodruff says
Cheryl, Ed and Bill, How you will miss your dad. He was such a special man. We thank the Lord for bringing him into our lives and rejoice that one day we will reunite with him as well as with your dear mother. We were richly blesed by God in allowing us to know and have your parents in our lives: experiencing their generosity when we borrowed their van traveling to Colorado, Word of Life (New York), Alabama and Kentucky – how our family loved those trips; worshipping and ministering together many years at Eagle Creek GBC with lunches at the Rivie; serving together on the church’s building committee; listening to all your dad’s clocks tick/tock while sipping your mom’s delicious hand squeezed lemonade; watching two huge Great Danes prance around the yard much to your dad’s delight; parties at their home listening to “Big Band” music…so many memories. Praise the Lord, we will all meet again soon and very soon. Our sincere condolences, Pastor Paul and Jan