Robert Louis Ledger

Robert Louis Ledger 78, Indianapolis, died Oct. 6, 2008. He was a loving family man, a kind and faithful husband, father and grandfather. He was also an outstanding educator who taught thousands of students during a career that spanned four decades. He was born June 9, 1930, in Louellen, KY, the sixth child of Robert Lair and Grace Tinsley Ledger. They both died around his 12th birthday, and he moved to a farm near Deputy, IN, to live with his uncle and aunt, Elbert and Edna Howard, and his "cousin brothers." Following graduation from Deputy High School, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington, the first in his family to go to college, and later earned a master s degree as well. After graduating from IU in 1952, he married Nancy Karolena Olsson in Ellettsville, IN. He served as a first lieutenant in the US Army during the Korean War, based in Fort Lee, VA. He taught math for five years in Battle Creek, MI, before moving to Indianapolis in 1959 to become a teacher and math department chairman at Warren Central High School, where he taught for 34 years, retiring in 1993. He also taught astronomy at Butler University and had been active in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Great Lakes Planetarium Association and Warren Arts and Education Foundation. His distinguished career included writing the math curriculum for Warren Township; introducing computerized class scheduling to the high school; and creating one of the first high school computer classes in Indiana. He was a church leader at Old Bethel for nearly 50 years, serving on numerous committees and boards, and teaching Bible study classes. His favorite activities included gardening, enjoying the outdoors, IU basketball, crossword puzzles and reading. Survivors include his wife, Nancy, and daughters Karen (Zolt) Levay; Katrina (William) Engle; Stephanie (George) McLaren; and Jennifer (Scott) Pharis, plus 12 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Mattie Hayes, and Bonnie Roddy. Calling will be Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Old Bethel United Methodist Church, with services at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center â€" Washington Park East. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Riley Children s Foundation, 30 S. Meridian Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3509.