Thomas Gail Grabill

Thomas (Tom) Grabill died on October 16, 2025, of complications from Parkinson’s Disease in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tom will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, devotion to his family, and love of his work supporting students and teachers. He had a gift for making people feel valued and seen.

Tom was born on October 2, 1943, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana. He spent much of his childhood in Decatur, Indiana. Tom earned bachelors (1965) and masters degrees (1968) in Chemistry from Ball State University and an Ed.S degree from Purdue University in 1980.

Tom taught Chemistry at Michigan City Elston High School and at Lowell High School. Tom was an award-winning teacher, winning teacher of the year, for example, at Elston High School in 1967. The local newspaper wrote, “The Teacher of the Year Award should go to someone handsome, intelligent, witty and understanding. Who else fits this description but Mr. Grabill.” Who else, indeed.

Tom moved into school administrative roles and had a long and distinguished career in public school finance, holding Assistant Superintendent roles at Tri-Creek Schools, East Allen County Schools, and finally in Lawrence Township Schools in Indianapolis. After retiring from Lawrence Township, he served as Director of Educational Services Company in Indianapolis. Tom was a school finance leader in the State of Indiana, serving as President of the Indiana Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) from 1993-1994, and he received the IASBO Lamplighter Award in 2007 for outstanding contributions to the profession of school business management.

Tom met Pat, his wife of 58 years, while teaching at Elston High School. She was a first year English teacher. They were both adorable and clever and committed to their students. They became friends while carpooling to Notre Dame for graduate school, married soon thereafter, and became best friends for life. He died as smitten with Pat as the day he married her.

Tom and Pat have two children, Jeff and Jennifer, who married wonderful people. Tom has two grandchildren, Megan and Jackson. Tom cried the day he learned he was to be a grandfather and teared up when he spoke of his grandchildren until the very end.

Tom loved to play golf. He played far better than he let on. He was the kindest man his friends and colleagues ever met. He was a gifted listener. He was a gentle man.

Tom started his marriage as a devout member of St. Mattress of the Boxspring but eventually converted to Catholicism, and his faith became core to how he lived his life. He gave of himself through his community, volunteering to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the sick. We could all learn from the way he lived his faith.

Parksinson’s is an awful condition, and we’d like to thank the many people and organizations who helped Tom and supported his family as he trained and worked and struggled with the disease. He did not always go gentle into that good night and would at times burn and rave at the close of day.

Tom is survived by his wife, Patricia (Barnett) Grabill, his daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer (Grabill) Towner and Mark Towner, his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff Grabill and Chandra (Martin) Grabill, and two beloved grandchildren, Megan and Jackson Grabill.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to any organization finding a cure for Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases.

Visitation will be on Friday, October 24, from 10:00-11:30 with a service immediately after at Holy Spirit Parish at Geist (10350 Glaser Way, Fishers, Indiana 46037.