Joe Pirtle

Joe Pirtle

Born in Sullivan, Indiana May 11, 1931 to the late Harry E. and Kathryn Pirtle, then moving to Indianapolis in 1944.

In the summer of 1949 Joe was selected by Junior Baseball as the most valuable 12-year-old player in the city. He received a three-day trip to the World Series between St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. He was then invited as a catcher to receive the first pitch in the Indianapolis Indians home opener in 1945.

Joe graduated from Howe High School. While at Howe, Joe was voted captain and most-valuable player in basketball and baseball.

He graduated from Butler, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He won awards in baseball and basketball and was a member of the B-Men’s Association.

In 1953 Joe married his college sweetheart Nancy Ehrhardt. They were married for 69 happy years. After graduation and marriage, Joe was drafted into the Army and served in the Korean War. He was stationed in Austria and Italy and his bride lived with him in Europe.

He was the director of the Basketball program for the Scarborough Peace Games under Mayor Hudnut.

He was a volunteer coach at Tabernacle Church for years in their Basketball and Football programs.  While at Tabernacle, he was an active member of their recreation Council under Russ Earl. Joe received the Dawson Award from Tabernacle Church given for outstanding leadership.

Joe spent most of his career in banking and insurance sales. He retired in 1997 from the Bob Steele Agency.

In 2001 Joe was award the Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor O’Bannon for his work with youth.

Joe and his family were active members of the Miramar Swim Club where he was a long-time board member and club president. He was also a member of the Irvington United Methodist Church.

Joe was a long-time member of Tippecanoe Lake Country Club and Stonehenge Golf Club where he enjoyed playing many rounds of golf with friends and family.

He founded the Tippy Open, an annual golf outing lasting for 60 years.

He loved his three boys, Doug, Jay, and Drew, and spoke with them daily.

Joe is survived by his wife, Nancy, his son, Drew S. Pirtle, several grand-children and great grand-children. He was preceded in death by his sons Douglas J., David “Jay”, and his brothers Rob and Jan.

A celebration of life will take place on Wednesday, September 28^th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Flanner Buchanan, 325 East Carmel Drive, Carmel, Indiana 46032.