Ralph W. VanNatta

Ralph W. VanNatta, 81, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, July 21, 2011 at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. Born November 13, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he was the son of Ralph M. and Ione (DeMars) VanNatta. He married Nora Smith on December 27, 1952 in Bartholomew County, Indiana, and she survives. Other survivors include his sons, Bruce (wife, Alison) VanNatta, MD of Westfield, Bobby VanNatta and Jim (wife, Rose) VanNatta, both of Shelbyville; daughter, Karla (husband, Rick) Myers of Stow, Ohio; half brothers, John, Royal, Justin and Jorge VanNatta; half sisters, Jane, Joyce, Jan, June and Jacquie VanNatta; grandchildren, Lindsay, Megan, Russ, Tav, Will, Kate, Christina, Stephanie, Megan, Cory, Brooke, Brent, Derek, Stephanie and Jenny; and 10 great-grandchildren. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; son, William Kevin VanNatta; and his sister, Jeanne Schilling. He had resided in Shelbyville since January 1952. Ralph was a buyer and salesman for Hub Shoes, Inc. in Shelbyville from 1952 thru 1964; he then served as Mayor of Shelbyville from 1964 thru 1971. He was the owner and manager of VanNatta Realty and TransMed Ambulance Service from 1971 to 1972. Ralph was Commissioner of Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles from 1973 thru 1980 and Executive Secretary of Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) in 1981 and 1982. From 1982 thru 1984 he was Business Broker and Manager of VR Business Brokers, in Indianapolis; and from 1984 thru 1988, he was a contractor with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles as a Defensive Driving Instructor and Instructor Trainer. Ralph owned and managed Shelby Travel Center in Shelbyville from 1988 thru August, 2001. He was also on the originating board of Shelby County Bank. He served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Instructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Ski and Mountain Climbing Instructor, 2nd Infantry, Camp Carson, Colorado from 1947 thru 1948; from 1950 thru 1951, he served in Korea as Combat Infantryman and Combat Intelligence in the 7th Infantry Division. Ralph was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he served as an usher, reader, Lay Minister and former member of Church Council; he was also a member of the American Legion and Veteran?s of Foreign Wars, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and National Safety Council. He was a former member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Rotary International. He was an eight year member and two term President of Shelby County United Fund (SCUFFY), former member of Board of Directors of Hoosier Girl Scout Council and Shelbyville Boys Club, member of National Highway Safety Advisory Council, two term president of Indiana Republican Mayors Association (1967-1971). Ralph received the Jaycees Outstanding Young Man of America Award in 1965, Jaycees Good Government Award in 1966 and Republican Mayor?s Man of the Year Award in 1979, Sagamore of the Wabash Awarded by Governor Otis Bowen, and was named a Kentucky Colonel by the State of Kentucky. He enjoyed golfing and hunting. A Gathering of Friends will be from 2 to 6 pm, Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St., with a rosary recited at 1:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 am, Monday, July 25, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 125 E. Broadway St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of donor's choice or American Heart Association, 6100 W. 96th St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278 or National Kidney Foundation of Indiana, 911 E. 86th St. #100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-1848 or St. Joseph Catholic Church, 125 E. Broadway St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176.