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Paul James Stokes (Jim), Indianapolis, passed away suddenly Wednesday, September 8th. He was born October 2nd, 1925, to Paul James Stokes, Sr, and Helen (Braunecker) Stokes. He was a native Hoosier who enjoyed many retirement months at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Jim attended PS70 and graduated from Shortridge High School, Class of 1943, and from Antioch College in 1948. After college he spent his 35-year career at Lilly Varnish Company, later renamed Lilly Industrial Coatings, retiring as Vice President and Treasurer. Civic board commitments included the Indianapolis Day Nursery and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He was an active member of the Indiana Board of Credit Management, and an officer of the National Credit Management Association.

Jim was a 60-year member of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (Tab), a deacon, elder, and elder trustee. On December 12, 1959, Jim married Mary Jeannine Grinslade at Tab and they were blessed with three sons: Paul (Anne), Charlton (Catherine), and John. Their beloved grandchildren include Lauren Stokes (Sal Chavez), P.J. Stokes IV, Elizabeth Moon (Micheal), Ryan Gertiser (Natalie), Reilly Stokes, Isabel Stokes; and great-grandchildren Olivia and Evan Elliott; and Kaedence, Easton and Lacey Gertiser; and beloved nieces Kathy Davis (Bill) and Christine Grinslade and families, all of whom mourn his passing.

Jim was a member of the Indianapolis Literary Club, Rotary Club of Indianapolis and Meridian Hills Country Club. Jim was a kind gentleman who appreciated a good book, funny jokes, a clever pun, and a great opera performance. A devotee of classical music, Jim was a season ticket holder of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in Jim’s honor; or a gift to the charity of your choice. The Stokes family wishes to thank Donna Chambly and Ann Travis for their exceptionally fine nursing skills and devoted care of Jim. Thanks also to the entire staff of AseraCare Hospice and Senior1Care.

Friends may call from 10am until 11am on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, 418 E. 34th Street, Indianapolis, where funeral services will immediately follow beginning at 11am. Burial will follow services in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Indy Do Day is a people-powered community day of service when the residents of Indianapolis take ownership of their neighborhoods and take care of their neighbors. 

Indy Do Day has been a 3-day event held in the fall to engage individuals and businesses within Central Indiana with civic entities and nonprofits. Along with other events during the pandemic, Indy Do Day was placed on hold last year. This year, Indy Do Day is a go, albeit different to accommodate the realities of 2021. It will be one day instead of three. The 2021 Indy Do Day will be Friday, September 24. 

The big difference began last year and is continuing this year. The Rotary Club of Indianapolis partnered with Selfless.ly and other community organizations to build a more robust website for nonprofits to utilize all year round. The website is beselflessindy.org. This website works to help Indy Do Day complete its mission – to build up Indy as the most civically engaged city in the US. It’s free to use and can be used year round. 

Indy Do Day is looking for fantastic nonprofits, churches or organizations to host projects and volunteers for Indy Do Day. If you post your project on our site, we’ll work to promote your project and mission leading up to and on Indy Do Day. 

– If you are a nonprofit organization you can begin by claiming your profile at beselflessindy.org/select-nonprofit/ and list your project at beselflessindy.org/events/community/add/.
– If your organization does not have a profile one can be created by going to form.beselflessindy.org/. 

Is your company looking for a project? Search beselflessindy.org to find a project that fits your needs.

Questions? Email info@indyrotary.org.

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Paul E. McClure of Franklin, IN passed away in the arms of his family at age 97 on July 12, 2021. A longtime resident of Indianapolis and Franklin, he was born on Jan 15, 1924 in Ghent, KY to the late M.B. and Lucia McClure.

At age 19, Paul volunteered for duty in the US Army. During World War II, Sgt Paul McClure served as his platoon’s communications chief in combat in Europe, 1944/45, where he earned the Combat Infantry Badge and was decorated for valor with a Bronze Star. On April 4, 1945, he participated in the first Allied liberation of a concentration camp at Ohrdruf, Germany. A month later, he concluded his combat service in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, where American forces met their Russian counterparts, signaling the war’s end. After the war, he returned to Evansville College, eventually transferring to Purdue University where he graduated with a Mechanical Engineering BS in 1950 and a MS in Education in 1955. In 1959, Paul moved to Indianapolis, where he first served as the Director of Education at North United Methodist Church. In 1966 he became a Program Associate at the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, and in 1973, he became the Executive Director of the Church Federation, where he served until he retired in 1987.

As a natural “bridge builder” for the Church Federation, Paul enthusiastically pursued leadership positions around the city. He chaired the Police/Community Relations Committee; was Vice-President of Crossroads of America Council of the Boy Scouts; was the Chairman of the Fairbanks Hospital Board (Community Fairbanks Recovery Center); was Chairman of the Buchanan Counseling Service at Methodist Hospital; and served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Council of Churches. He also developed a city-wide suicide prevention service and was instrumental in developing Christian programming for local television.

Following his retirement, he and his wife Patricia traveled across the country in their trailer, spending many happy years wintering in McAllen TX before eventually settling in Franklin IN in 2001. Six years after Pat’s passing in 2010, Paul married Dotti Gerner, a lifelong friend and colleague. Paul was a proud Purdue University alumnus, a tireless champion of education, and a Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver recipient; but most importantly, he was a wise, loving, and compassionate inspiration for his entire family.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Patricia, his daughter Pamela Wichmann, and his brothers Bruce, Karl and Alden. He is survived by his wife Dotti, his children Peggy (Joe) Kelley, Paul Alan (Theresa) McClure and Bernie Wichmann; his four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; and his brother Edwin (Ann) McClure.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00pm on Jul 24, 2021 at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis.