Charles Gaylord Reeder

Charles Gaylord Reeder, Charlie Reeder passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 15, 2021. He was born in Dayton, Ohio on July 3, 1939 to Charles and Betty (Hash) Reeder. He attended Fairview High School in Dayton, was an avid baseball player, and graduated in 1957. He then matriculated to Miami of Ohio where he met his true love, Judy, and married her in classic Miami Merger style after graduation in 1961. They settled in Indianapolis. He completed his formal education with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1965, graduating with honors near the top of his class and was a member of the Order of the Coif. Charlie enjoyed a distinguished legal career in business and civil law that spanned more than 50 years. He practiced in Indianapolis, first with Johnson and Weaver, then with Stewart and Reeder, and lastly with Holland and Holland. He was a natural educator and taught Business Law at Butler University and Torts at the Indianapolis campus of the IU Law School. Professionally, Charlie was fair-minded, impartial, and judicious. He worked hard on behalf of his clients. For those of limited means, he often performed his services pro bono. He was always available, always generous, always patient. Most of all, he was genuinely empathetic to the needs and disappointments of others and everyone could see it. When he spoke with you, you were the only person in the room. And after talking to him, you walked away with a lighter burden and an easier smile. Charlie’s personal gifts were inspiring in the quietest of ways. He had an abundant sense of humor, gentle, self-effacing, comforting. He had a wonderful knack of defusing a tense situation with just the right wit at just the right time. He was kind beyond measure and there was no one he did not welcome as his friend. But perhaps his most endearing quality was that he loved to be around people. It was an amazing, authentic, real love, he loved to talk to us, to joke with us, to ask about us, and most importantly, to listen to us. Everyone felt at home with him. You could be his son. You could be meeting him for the first time. But regardless of the circumstances, you always felt at home. Charlie was a committed, active member of Second Presbyterian Church. He took his religion seriously, gave unstintingly of his time, talent, and treasure, and in his unselfish and humble manner he was a living example of his faith. Finally, no remembrance could be complete without remarking on Charlie’s love for his family which was complete and total. His heart was never fully satisfied unless his family was present, all of us, in the same place and at the same time. He was the life of our gatherings without needing to be the center of attention. We will remember him as a loyal and faithful husband, the greatest dad in the world, the best “Pa-Pa” on the planet, a grateful son, a loving brother, a consummate professional, a dear friend. And we will all miss this tender and gracious man. The Reeder family would like to extend our most heartfelt appreciation to dad’s caretakers at American Village, IU Hospice and their wonderful staff, and the dedicated providers at Methodist and IU North Hospital who provided much of his hospital care over the past several years, especially Areeba Kara, Ali Hamza and Pat McQuillan. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, 2021 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260. Charlie is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Judy; his sons, Mike, John (Norma), Kent (Carol), and David (Lindsay); and grandchildren, Tony, Austin, Brooke, Taylor, Avery, Johnny, Lila, Riley, Darby, and Max (Hayley). Memorial contributions may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260 or online at www.secondchurch.org/give. Final care and arrangements are entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel.

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Charles Gaylord Reeder

July 3, 1939 - October 15, 2021