Dr. Frank L. Meeker

Dr. Frank L. Meeker, retired professor of Psychological Science at Ball State University, died on October 25, 2025. Born November 18, 1942 in Anderson, Indiana to Nila Ione (Williams) and Franklin Varnard Meeker, Frank graduated from Anderson High School in 1961, and from Ball State University in 1966. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Montana, and returned to teach at Ball State from 1970 to 2004, chairing the department for several years. Affected by witnessing a horrific railroad accident as a teenager, Frank conducted research on drivers' behavior at railroad grade crossings that influenced state departments of transportation in their efforts to make crossings safer.
Frank was passionate about history and historic preservation. He and his then-wife Linda purchased the Suzane Little Thomas house in 1976, and they worked to undo decades of modifications and neglect. Frank continued to work on the house until 2021, relinquishing it only once its future was safeguarded. He was also an avid local historian, and was instrumental in the founding of the East Central Neighborhood Association, the designation of the Emily Kimbrough Historic District, and the Old Washington Street Festival. Over the years, he devoted countless hours of service to ECNA, Historic Muncie, the Delaware County Historical Alliance, and the Muncie Historic Preservation and Rehabilitation Commission. He resided exclusively in Muncie until 2011, when he began spending much of the year in Sarasota, Florida.
Frank was also a lifelong tennis player. Early exposure to the game came when he was hired as a child to maintain the first clay tennis courts in Anderson. He played in doubles tournaments with his father as a child, competitively on his high school and college varsity teams, at the Muncie Tennis Club (later YMCA) on Thursday nights for decades, and in a "super senior" league in Florida for several years, making many of his closest friends on the court.
Since beginning lessons as a child, Frank delighted in playing the piano, devoting hours to practice consistent with his mantra that "anything worth doing is worth doing well." He kept two pianos at home and had a number of duet partners over the years, frequently joking that, like doubles in tennis, playing duets lets you blame poor play on your partner.
A loving father and doting grandfather, Frank is survived by his son David Meeker and daughter Catherine (John) Scherschel, and by his three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Christopher and Caroline Scherschel. He is also survived by his dear friend of sixty years, Lambert Deckers, his former wife Linda Hanson, and several cousins.
His family would like to thank the staff at Lincolnshire Place for their kindness and compassionate care over the last several months of his life.
To celebrate his life, family and friends may call at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel in Muncie, on Monday, November 24th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. He will be buried at Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Indiana Landmarks in his memory. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.