Charles "Wendell" Leedy

Charles Wendell Leedy

was born in Indianapolis on March 14, 1931 to Charles Calvin Leedy and Zelda (Hoy) Leedy. He graduated from Southport High School and entered into a five-year co-op engineering program at General Motors Institute, graduating in 1954 with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering. He stayed with Allison Gas Turbine Division of GM in Indianapolis for 42 years, retiring in 1992. This tenure included 2-1/2 years working in Derby, England for Rolls Royce in a joint engine-manufacturing venture between the two companies.

Wendell was a member of the Indiana Air National Guard from 1955 to 1962, serving as a radar & gunsight technician. For a year of that time, he was an active-duty member of the US Air Force during the Berlin Crisis.

Wendell and his wife, Carole, raised three daughters in Greenwood, along with countless dogs, cats, & sheep. Many city residents still have fond memories of the large vegetable garden and bouncing spring lambs in their field along Main Street.

Always most at home in the outdoors, Wendell was even busier in his retirement years, working countless hours with Carole in the woods at their 180-acre tree farm and Classified Hardwood Forest in Greene County, Indiana. He was a long-time member of the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association, winning several awards including the 2005 Indiana Tree Farmer of the Year. Over the years, Wendell was very active at Community Church of Greenwood and Southland Community Church, serving as an elder.

Wendell is survived by his wife, Carole; his sister, Lila (& Myles) Eley; his daughters, Nancy Kennedy, Diane (& Pete) Newett, and Susan Helsel, and five grandchildren.

A Celebration of Wendell's life will be Friday, January 7th 12:00pm at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service & Crematory, Greenwood Chapel 481 W. Main Street Greenwood, IN with a visitation from 11:00 am to service time. He will be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Southland Community Church Building Fund 5800 West Smith Valley Rd., Greenwood, Indiana 46142.