| Fred Short, formerly of Wabash, passed away at 12:45 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 2019 at Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester. He was born April 29, 1929 to Newton and Kathryn (Smith) Short in Delphi Indiana, and lived his entire life near or in Wabash County. Fred was one of 12 siblings and loved being part of a large family. He grew up on a farm and started his first paying job on the Minnick Farm in Somerset. Fred graduated from Somerset High School class of 1948, where he played Varsity Basketball. Fred married Lillian M. Harnish on July 4th, 1954; she died January 3, 2018. Fred is survived by his 5 children, Stanley (Nancy) Short of Nashville, Tennessee, Diana (Jim) Stump, Ryan (Tracy) Short, Maria Short, and Peggy (Tadd) Eads all from Wabash County. 8 grandchildren: Cari Freer Casablanca, Morocco; Air Force Major Liza Short of Tampa Florida; Abby (Blake) Bitzer of Noblesville, Indiana; Allison (Corbin) Dawes of Andrews, Indiana; Cami (Jason) Wulfeck of Edgewood, Kentucky; Army Specialist Chase Stump of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Steffan (Ciara) Short of Noblesville, Indiana; and Brooklyn (Tyler) Guenin of Urbana, Indiana. 6 great-grandchildren: Odessa Freer, Reagan Wulfeck, Brontly Bitzer, Oakley Guenin, Jackson Wulfeck, and Jersey Guenin who brought Fred great joy, and his brother, Ralph (Pat) Short of Camarillo, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers, Raymond, Ross, Phillip, Richard, and Kenneth Short, 2 sisters, Jessie and Jean Short and 3 half-brothers, Charlie, George and Paul Lester. Fred served in the United States Air Force from 1948-1952. He was stationed at an island off Japan during the Korean War as a Radio/Communication Specialist, leaving the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant. Upon return from his military service, he worked for Honeywell Factory, Wabash Materials Cement Company, Wabash Friends Church, CSC Fertilizer, Wabash City Schools, MSD of Wabash County, and Gaunt & Sons all of Wabash County. Fred was hired onto the Wabash Police Department in 1957, was promoted to Sergeant, Captain, and retired as Chief of Police. He retired in 1977 after serving 20 years on the department. Fred was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Wabash Lions Club, the International Union of Operating Engineers, and the Wabash American Legion. He was a long-time member of the Wabash Friends Church, then attended the First Church of God in his later years. He loved farming, Sunday afternoon drives around Indiana, NASCAR racing, and watching all his grandchildren’s activities. Funeral Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2019 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, Indiana with Pastor Dave Philips officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 3-8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home of Fort Wayne, Peabody Foundation, or the Alzheimer’s Association. |