Richard ‘Dick’ E. Andis

Friday, September 9, 2022

Richard “Dick” E. Andis, 89, of Greencastle, passed away on Sept. 5, 2022 surrounded by his family.

Dick was born March 13, 1933 in Greenfield, Hancock County, to Hobson H. and Margaret M. (Epperson) Andis. His parents preceded him in death, Hobson in 1935 and Margaret in 1933 when Dick was six months old.

After graduating from Greenfield High School and Central Business College in Indianapolis, Dick married Nancy Torr in 1953, and they divorced in 1987. He married Beverly (Linn) Hansel in 1988.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean War at Heidelberg, Germany, in the Office of Secretary of General Staff, Commander-in-Chief U.S. Army Europe.

Upon return from the service in 1955 he joined IBM at the Greencastle card manufacturing plant as secretary to the plant manager. Subsequent assignments included IBM Supplies Division manufacturing and financial staffs in New York City; personnel, financial and production control management positions in Greencastle; personnel manager in Campbell, Calif.; plant manager in Howell, Mich.; personnel manager, production manager and various field distribution management and staff assignments in Greencastle until retiring in 1987.

Dick played a major role in Greencastle’s strategic planning efforts in the 1980s, including steering committee member of Greencastle 2001. He was one of the original members of the Greencastle QL (Quality of Life) forum founded in the mid-1980s.

Dick was a charter member of the Greencastle Development Center and was the first executive director of GDC, serving from 1986 to 1992. In that capacity he played a key role in Putnam County’s economic recovery from the devastating effects of the Greencastle IBM facility closure in 1987.

He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1550 and a 49-year member of the American Legion, Cassell C Tucker Post 58.

Dick served as president and campaign chairman of the Putnam County United Way, as well as vice president of the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce. He was involved in the Wabash Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America and served as president of Windy Hill Country Club in 1975.

He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and a founding member of Greencastle Defenders of Liberty Tea Party.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly Andis; children Bruce (Tami) Andis of Jeffersonville, Brenda Brink of Noblesville, Brian (Anne) Andis of Apollo Beach, Fla., Bradley (Mindy) Andis of Newton, N.J., and Beth (Chris) Binkley of Holiday, Fla.; grandchildren Timothy Binkley, Patrick Binkley, David Tilley, Carol Bates, Erica Brantley, Carla Andis, Laura Andis and Benjamin Andis; four great-grandchildren; stepchildren Bradley Hansel (Verna) of Waterford, Ohio, and Kimberly Hansel of Malta, Ohio; stepgrandchildren Jennifer Hinton and Kelsee Hansel; and three step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and twin granddaughters, Rebekah Nicole and Gabrielle Linette.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Peace Lutheran Church 1421 S. Bloomington St. in Greencastle.

Inurnment will follow with military honors in the Peace Lutheran Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends on Saturday at the church from 11 a.m. until time of service.

Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dick to Peace Lutheran Church.