Dustin Lee Gilmer

Dustin “Lil D” Gilmer passed away August 7, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 29.

Friends and family will forever remember his resilience, warmth, and infectious positive attitude. Dustin approached life with joy and had a knack for problem solving and made an indelible mark on his community.

Through his work as project manager for the Office of Disability Affairs in the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Dustin devoted his career to improving the accessibility of the city and tirelessly advocating for disability rights. His faithful dog Carver, who also passed on August 7, was always by his side.

Dustin will be greatly missed by his mother, Michelle Hogue and her husband Henry “Hank”; his father, Archie Gilmer and wife Pamela; bonus father Rick Shields; sisters Kaylynn Phipps, Cassie (Joe) Snyder, Chelsea Hogue, Candace Hogue, Rene (Daniel) Benson, Penny (Mike) Lane; brother Rick Shields II; grandparents Bernie and Maureen Gilmer, Sandy and Earl Cloyd, Henry and Anna Hogue, and grandmothers Rebecca Gilmer and Sue Gibbons.  He is preceded in death by grandfather Leonard “Lenny” Cramer, grandfather Barry Gibbons, grandmother Patsy Jackson, grandfather Phil Reehling, and great-grandmother Polly Phillips.

Dustin was born August 13 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Decatur Central High School in 2009 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree with a double major in journalism and telecommunication from Ball State University in 2015.

He loved power soccer, BBQ, radio, the Atlanta Braves, the Indiana Hoosiers, Indianapolis Colts, and Indiana Pacers. He was also a  leader in the Franklin Township Lead the Challenge softball league.

Due to local restrictions, services are private. Please contact the family for additional information.

Family asks, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Canine Companions, North Central Region, 4989 State Route 37 East, Delaware, OH 43015 or online at www.cci.org. Checks may be made out to Canine Companions of for Independence or CCI.