Zachary "Zach" Everett Whitt Warrick

Zachary Everett Whitt Warrick (2004-2022)

Zach was a young man with many talents and interests. His passions ranged from playing baseball to reading historical accounts of famous battles and making WWII dioramas to playing violin with excellence. He was excited by camping, mountain biking and all things outdoors. He visited five continents, lived in three states, and one Canadian province. He enjoyed a wide-ranging palate, including shawarma, Indian food, bubble tea and a good steak.

Zach had many artistic talents. He sang in Colla Voce and performed in musicals since his freshman year, notably performing as Fyedka in “Fiddler on the Roof” and Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid”. He studied violin from first grade and participated in Heritage Christian School (HCS) orchestra from fifth through twelfth grades. He played in the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra (including Concert, Philharmonic, and Symphony) for five years and the Indiana All-State Orchestra for two years. Zach was scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City later in June with the IYO. His greatest musical passion was in forming and leading a chamber orchestra at HCS during this past year. He participated in ISSMA for seven years. At the end of the year, he received the National Orchestra Award for HCS. He also enjoyed occasionally joining the worship team at school and church.

Zach had many academic ambitions, with his primary aim to become a history professor. He planned to matriculate at Samford University (Birmingham, AL) this fall. One of his favorite areas of study included American civil war history; he toured three National Civil War Battlefield sites last summer. Zach was always aware that his career ambition would require extra income so he was already developing some “side hustles”; he worked at a bike shop and operated his own lawn-mowing business.

Though he had many failings and was sometimes ornery with his parents, the Lord touched Zach’s life deeply. The gospel message taught to him at home, church, and school became a personal faith in Christ that informed everything he did. He endeavored to demonstrate the love he felt inside through his actions and words, even to his brother. He inspired others to join him in raising funds for Cuddle Cots and involvement in a weekly grassroots ministry to provide food and show compassion to people living on the streets of downtown Indy. During his senior year, he led a weekly Bible study and accountability group and a separate study in which he mentored underclassmen. Four days before his death, Zach graduated with honors from HCS and received the Alan Leinbach Servant Leadership Award (voted by the faculty) and the Spiritual Life Leadership Award (voted by his classmates).

Zach, above all, was a young man who was passionate in his love for Jesus Christ and wanted others to know that the emptiness inside us all can be filled only by Him. Zach was formed by the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10) and has now joined the great cloud of witnesses of believers (Hebrews 12:1). He is survived by his loving parents Paul and Rebecca, brother Brayden, grandmother Ruth Whitt, Uncle Phil and Aunt Livia, Auntie Janice and Uncle Mark, Auntie Val and Uncle John, and cousins: Shannon, Alanna, Hillary, Emma, Nolwenn, Alba, Alexandra, and Jordynne.

Donations will be accepted in lieu of flowers to the Zachary Warrick Memorial Fund (checks can be mailed care of Heritage Christian School 6401 E. 75th St., Indpls or donations made online at https://giving.veracross.com/hcs/give/Warrick#gift-amount-step) or Great Smoky Mountains Association, GSMA (checks can be mailed care of the Great Smoky Mountains Association, P.O. Box 130, Gatlinburg, TN 37738-0130 or donations made online at http://www.smokiesinformation.org).