Terry W. Sims

Terry W. Sims, 74, of Indianapolis, passed away October 27, 2024. He was born January 8, 1950, in Columbus, IN, to Marlyn R. Sims and Kenneth P. Sims and graduated from Columbus (IN) High School and Indiana State University. Following college graduation, he began working for the Boys Club of Columbus, first as physical director and later as program director. During his employment with the Boys Club of Columbus, he met Tina Barnes in 1980 through a mutual friend, and they were married April 5, 1986.

Terry left Columbus to take a job as executive director of the Boone County Boys Club, which served Lebanon and Zionsville. He later worked for United Cerebral Palsy of Indiana, where he managed the Indiana Sports Games for Persons with Disabilities. He ended his full-time working life at Resort Condominiums International (RCI) as a vacation guide, a position that he thought would be temporary but ended up lasting 16 years. At RCI, he made many friends and took advantage of the complimentary resort vacation accommodations every year. Thanks to the RCI perk, he and Tina enjoyed Florida beach vacations every spring, and in early September each year, they headed to other destinations, including the mountains of Colorado, Glacier National Park, Yosemite National Park, Arizona, Utah, the Oregon coast, the Canadian Rockies, the Shenandoah Valley, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and northern Michigan. During retirement, he worked part-time for two years at A Caring Place adult day center operated by Catholic Charities of Indianapolis.

When he wasn’t working, Terry could probably be found on a golf course. He loved the game and his golfing buddies and was proud to have had a hole-in-one in 1983 at Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus. Unfortunately, he had to give up the game in his sixties due to a shoulder injury.

Terry was a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and one of his most cherished memories was a trip with friends to a game in Yankee Stadium, where he saw Derek Jeter hit his one and only grand slam. He originally was a Chicago Bears fan, but after the Colts moved to Indianapolis, he switched allegiance to cheer for them.

Terry had a good heart and liked helping others. After he bought his snowplow, he plowed driveways for other neighbors. He was occasionally called to help the elderly couple across the street when one of them fell and couldn’t get up.

He is survived by his loving wife, Tina; his brother, John Sims (wife Debra); a sister-in-law, Lisa Guess; a brother-in-law, Jim Barnes; nieces, Jenni Kelley, Erin Webster, and Christina Guess; nephews, John Sims and James Guess; and his good dog, Lexie.

Visitation will be Friday, November 1, 2024, from noon to 3 p.m. at Flanner Buchanan – Broad Ripple, 1305 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis. A funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. Terry will be cremated in accordance with his wishes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.