Gary Ray Pershing

Monday, February 15, 2010

Gary Ray Pershing, of Greencastle died Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 at his home.

He was born in 1949 in Washington, Ind. He was a 10-year member of 4-H in Daviess County and graduated from Washington High School in 1967. Gary graduated from the University of Evansville with a B.S. in accounting. While there, he helped found the local chapter of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He served in the Indiana National Guard from 1970 to 1976.

Gary began his career as an accountant for State Farm Insurance in West Lafayette. After earning his CPA, he managed the Delphi branch of the Jack Mellon, CPA firm. In 1976, Gary's family moved to Greencastle where he co-founded Hudkins-Pershing CPAs. The firm eventually evolved as Pershing and Co. In 1998, he founded a family owned payroll processing company.

Gary was a member of Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church and an active community member, involved in such organizations as the Greencastle Rotary Club, Greencastle Economic Development Center and the Citizens Advisory Commission for Industrial Development. He served as Director for First United Savings and Loan, now Old National Bank, becoming chairman of the board in 1993. He continued to serve on the board throughout his career. He also enjoyed long-term directorships for Magic Circle (Dixie Chopper), Aviation Core Matrix and New Horizons. He enjoyed membership with his grandson in the Western Indiana Knife Collectors Club.

An avid runner, Gary participated in the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon every year for over a decade. He enjoyed competing in countless other running events, including the Chicago Marathon. He enjoyed traveling about on his Harley with family and friends. Searching for antiques, attending auctions and helping his wife with her shop, Refinements, was a special passion, as was sharing the joys of knife and coin collecting and fishing with his grandchildren.

Gary will be missed by his wife Brenda; son Brian and wife Joy; and grandchildren, Brandon, Braden and Arianna. He is also survived by his parents, Evelyn and Wilbur Pershing of West Lafayette; siblings, Woody Pershing and wife Debbie of Indian Shore, Fla., Bruce Pershing and wife Dana of West Lafayette and Brenda Detzner and husband Tim of Lafayette; as well as cherished extended family.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Simpson St., Greencastle, with the Rev. P.T. Wilson officiating. Calling will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, PO Box 66, Greencastle, IN 46135 or Friends of Advocate Hospice, 2605 East Main Street, Danville, IN 46122