Gillan, Dr. Robert L.
Indianapolis Star Obituary: September 9, 2009
Dr. Robert L. Gillan 93, Thorntown, IN, died September 6, 2009. He was
born August 26, 1916 in Darlington, IN. Mr. Gillan was a graduate of
Thorntown High School in 1934, then Central College in 1939, receiving
a degree in Music and English graduate work at Butler. Later he
received a Ph.d and taught school in Sandborn, IN and Thorntown,
Roachdale, Williams, Carmel, Huran and for Indianapolis Public
Schools, retiring in 1984. He taught music for 11 years, then spent
most of time teaching fifth grade slow learners. His greatest
accomplishment was two doctors came from those fifth graders. He had
10 different teaching certificates. He served six years in the U.S.
Navy during WWII as a primary flight instructor and later in weather
recon and hurricane tracking. He received in 1973 a Valley Forge
Freedom Foundation National Teacher of the Year, the Older Hoosier of
the Year Award in 2005, Boone County Breeders and Freeders
Distinquished Agricultural Career Award in 2004. He farmed for many
years raising grain and registered Angus cattle. He planted his last
crop in 2005 at the age of 89. For many years he was a glide
instructor, taking last flight in the Spring of 2009. He was an
accomplished artist having won many awards for his oil painting. His
artwork hangs in Sugar Creek Art Center in Thorntown, IN. His
memberships include Boone County Antique Tractor Association, Boone
County Master Gardens, Lebanon Masonic Lodge 9, Scottish Rite, Friends
of the Thorntown Library, Thorntown Christian Church Boone County
Genealogiscal Society, National Soaring Society, Phi Delta Kappa, Sons
of the American Revolution, Boone County Amateur Radio Club, Boone
County Blue Bird Society, American Legion Post 218, Thorntown and
Sugar Creek Historical Society. Memorial contributions may be made to
the Sugar Creek Art Center, Thorntown, IN. Services will be at 2:30
p.m. September 10, 2009 in Thorntown Christian Church, with visitation
there from 2 to 8 p.m. September 9, 2009. He was preceded in death by
wife, Roxie Robbins Gillan; parents, Thomas Gillan and Maude Dove
Richie Gillan. Survivors include sister, Janette Holmes from Palm
Gardens, FL and brother, Devon Gillan from Taft, IN. Arrangements by
Russell and Hitch Funeral Home, Lebanon, IN.
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5 comments:
I have his poem about soaring here - Maybe we should post it for our members
Song of Songs - Robert Lee Gillan
Oh, that sweet melodious strain!
Sing it over for me again.
And let it echo as it sings
All along these tapering wings,
Now sound it with that pitch so fine
Around my cockpits curving line.
Sweet voice of upward rushing air
That whisks me from my world of care,
And flings me up to lofty heights
In paths of hawks and eagle flights.
Where towering clouds of white and gray,
That draw us from the earth away.
My little craft and I soar free
And sing the haunting melody.
For hours we soar that peaceful zone,
We're just a speck and all alone.
Alas, for me, the day must end!
I homeward now my way must wend.
But from my heart there breathes a sigh
For part of me was left on high.
Some sunlit day o'er hill and vale
My craft and I will upward sail.
And rise on wings where my heart longs
To hear once more that - Song of Songs.
RIP Bob.
I will miss all the great stories and your encouragements... I love you both Roxie and Smokey...
Rest in Peace
S.Robbins
I'm seeing this post quite late after stumbling upon this website by chance. I took my first instructed flight in an aircraft with Bob about 9 years ago. As I recall it was about 15 minutes in the air and an hour or more of debriefing.
And now I know why. He had a lot worth saying. I see from his obituary all that he did in his life. Any man should be so fortunate to live as he did.
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