Melvin C. Hartley

Melvin “Buddy” Hartley, of Indianapolis, Indiana succumbed to heart disease peacefully at his home on Thursday, February 18. He was 91. A man of humble and inauspicious beginnings, left self-reliant and alone at the tender age of 14, he went on to father and lead the large and loving family that he most pined for in his youth.

Buddy was born on January 24, 1930, the fifth of seven children and first son to Melvin C. Hartley and Retta E. (Pickrel) Hartley in Statesville, North Carolina. His family settled in Richmond, Virginia nine years later, but their time together in Richmond was short-lived. In 1944, Buddy’s father died suddenly, bankrupting the family, and forcing them from their home. Buddy’s younger brothers were split up and given away to families across the Richmond area, and his sisters had by that time all married and moved away. Buddy had nowhere to go. He was forced to set out on his own.

Renting a small, solitary room in a house in northern Richmond, Buddy lied about his age to get a job at an Army & Navy surplus store, and finally a haberdashery, in order to support himself through high school. Years later, when talking about his time selling men’s hats, he would gather his grandchildren around him and, smiling his great affectionate smile, blow quickly across the top of a fedora while secretly manipulating it with his fingers underneath, magically creating a lengthwise crease in the crown. His grandchildren would look on in astonishment, and he would laugh.

In 1948, after graduating from John Marshall High School and completing technical training at the Virginia Mechanics Institute, he met the woman who would become his wife. Buddy met Wanda by chance while visiting some of his family members who had settled in Orlando, Florida. They spent a day and a half together, roller skating and talking, before he told her that he wanted to marry her. They exchanged love letters for several months, and he eventually followed her to Indiana, where she and her family had just moved. Within eighteen months, they were married, and starting a family of their own. They would go on to have eight children together.

Throughout most of his adult life, everyone who knew Buddy associated him with the railroad, and for good reason. Buddy’s family came first, but his career as Train Director came right behind. In 1956, he went to work for the Indianapolis Union Railway Company, and finally retired from its successor, Conrail, in 1993 after 37 years. He loved the job, he said, because he was trusted with moving people as well as freight safely across the country. Much like an air traffic controller, he held people’s lives in his hands, and it was his calling to see that he did not let them down. In tandem with being a train director, Buddy spent many years as a passionate union representative for the Brotherhood of Railway, Airline, and Steamship Clerks (BRAC). In his later years, he loved to tell all his grandkids about how he used to go meet with Mayor Hudnut, and go down to Washington to meet with congressional leadership, working to consolidate struggling railroads, preserve the jobs of his colleagues, and ensure benefits for retired railroad workers.

Still, throughout his 37-year career with the railroad, his first priority was always his family, and as that family grew larger and larger as the years rolled by, he never failed to meet the demands that went along with a full house. When a concrete sidewalk was needed, he would mix, pour, and form it himself. If there was an electrical problem, or a leaky pipe, he would fix it himself. And indeed, as his family grew, and the house became altogether too small to contain it, he simply made the house bigger, designing and building additions by himself – literally creating the bedrooms for the children as they were born – so strong was his will that they should have what they need.

With his retirement drawing near in the early 1990’s, and his children long ago leaving the nest and beginning lives of their own, Buddy began to realize the joys of spending time with his grandchildren. And when he retired, he was a hands-on Grandpa, right down to changing diapers. It would be impossible to count the number of times he would drop whatever he was doing to see his children, his grandchildren, and indeed his great-grandchildren as well. He was there for every holiday, every birthday, and everything else in between.

Buddy lived a life full of love. He loved playing Santa Claus at Christmas. He loved playing harmonica. Loved Linwood Christian Church where he worshipped for more than 60 years. He loved family breakfasts at Cracker Barrel, Le Peep and McDonald’s. He loved butter pecan ice cream, and Zagnut candy bars. Most of all though, he loved hugs. Beneath that rough exterior there was always a sentimental man, one who would, without embarrassment, easily tear up with emotion. This was a man who grew up wanting nothing more than to feel the warm embrace of a loving family. Through hard work and with God’s help, that is exactly what he received.

As we, his family, join in embrace to mourn his passing, we hope that he may find love in God’s embrace – until we are all able to embrace him again.

Melvin “Buddy” is survived by his children Daniel Hartley (Lois), David Hartley (Margie), Douglas Hartley (Candy), Dale Hartley (Linda), Deborah Hartley Cooper (Mark), Duane Hartley (Melissa), Darin Hartley (Angie), Diana Hartley Mutz (Howard Schrott); grandchildren Christopher, Catharine, Brian, Jeida, Elwyn, Debbie, Jonathan, Christina, Matthew, Erika, Joel, Jacob, Jonah, Sarah, Fletcher, Lucianna; great-grandchildren Emmett, Sabrina, Chase, Isabella, Alexis, Emersyn, Brianna, Keira, Hartley, Hayden; brother Dorman L. Hartley (Jean); and ex-wife Wanda L. (Bright) Hartley. He is preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Retta; siblings Mildred, Helen, Gracie, Opal Louise, James; and grandson Aaron Ethan.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Buddy at Flanner Buchanan – Memorial Park, 9350 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46229 on, Monday, June 14th at 11:00am ET. All friends and family are welcome to join for services. Masks required. For friends and family who would like to join via livestream, please use the following link. Melvin Hartley Memorial Service

In lieu of flowers, donations in Buddy’s name can be made by mail to Linwood Christian Church at 4424 E. Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46201.

If you wish to view the livestream of Melvin’s service, please click here.