Ira Franklin Null

Ira Franklin Null was born in Wallace on April 9, 1940, at home during a snowstorm. This three-pound premature baby was placed in a shoebox and put in the kitchen oven to stay warm to start his life. Frank passed away on Nov. 9, 2023, at the age of 83 after a short battle with lung cancer.

His late parents were Andrew Franklin and Ruby Murel Carpenter Null. His was primarily a farming family. Frank was the youngest of three. His oldest sister, Ester, married to William Locke, and his middle sister, Beverley, married to Harold Scott. All preceded him in death.

Frank grew up as a farm boy. He worked the farm in his spare time while attending Logan Grade School for eight years. While attending Logan Grade School he played on the basketball team, and he helped Logan win its first county basketball championship. He worked hard at Attica High School and he graduated in 1958 as the senior class president.

Frank married Rebecca Leah Brothers Null in 1959.

Frank worked for two years for Olin Mathieson as a a physical and chemical lab technician to test test their cellophane products, and did clerical work on the weekends with the Wabash Railroad. Frank turned down an appointment to the United States Postal Service and joined IBM in 1961. After several clerical and accounting jobs, Frank managed the accounting department until IBM closed the Greencastle facility. He then joined IBM’s auditing department and retired as a financial advisor after 37 years of service to IBM.

During his years with IBM, civic duty was considered the most important to Frank. Frank served as president of the Greencastle Planning Commission for five years and was a member of the zoning board. He also was one of the founding members of the Putnam County Coin Club. As a member of the Heritage Preservation Society, Frank, Rebecca and their only son, John Edward Null, purchased the Charles Leuteke home (built in 1893), also known as Lindenhurst. Frank and Rebecca had been restoring the home along with the playhouse; which was built in 1876, roughly 20 years prior to the completion of Lindenhurst on Locust Street.

Frank is survived by his wife, Rebecca Leah Brothers Null; son John Edward Null and wife Julie Anne McAllen Null; and two granddaughters, Kathleen Anne Null Bernauer and husband Nicholas Alan Bernauer and Alana Marie Null of Indianapolis. There are also several surviving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 at the Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, followed by interment at the Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday from 11 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice.