Obituaries

Charles "Dwain" Laird, 94, Shelbyville

Charles “Dwain” Laird, 94, of Shelbyville passed away Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Heritage House of Shelbyville.

 

Dwain was born March 14, 1925, in Shelby County, the son of Harold Hanly and Mary Margaret (Long) Laird. On July 26, 1980, he married Lossie Marie (Henke) Linville, and she survives.

 

In addition to Lossie, Dwain is survived by his son, Michael “Kent” Laird and wife, Cinda, of Shelbyville; daughter, Christiane “Christy” Meyer of Shelbyville; step-daughter, Patricia Ilene “Tricia” Linville Walton and husband, Roger, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Stephanie Wehrman and husband, Ryan, Natalie Pumphrey and husband, Robert, Ashley Ricciardi and husband, Korey, Jaclyn Zrebiec and husband, Jason, Sarah Laird, Zachary Laird and wife, Cassie, Quinn Laird and fiance’, Jessica, Ryan Scott and wife, Brittny, Cody Montgomery and wife, Erica, Rachel Parks and husband, Michael, Chad Simerly, Levi Linville and Luke Linville; great-grandchildren, Alexander Wehrman, Elaina Wehrman, Charles Pumphrey, Mollie Pumphrey, Anne Pumphrey, Conner Ricciardi, Hailey Ricciardi, Camden Ricciardi, Marissa Zrebiec, Alexis Zrebiec, Elijah Zrebiec, Isaac Zrebiec, Taylinn Laird, Weston Laird, Tucker Laird, Jaylah, Aaliyah, Rylee Scott, Max Scott, Grace Montgomery, Beckett Montgomery, Ethan Simerly, Haylei Simerly, Silas Simerly and Braxton Parks; sisters-in-law, Faith Laird of Waldron and Christine Laird of Shelbyville; and several nieces and nephews.

 

Dwain was preceded in death by his parents; son, Donald Dwain Laird; brothers, Dwight Norman Laird, William Fredrick Laird and Robert Harold Laird; sister, Mary Frances Bush; and step-daughter, Melissa Ann Linville.

 

He graduated in 1943 from Waldron High School.

 

Dwain was a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church since 1942, on August 13, 2006 he was ordained as a Deacon.

 

He was a farmer and life-long Shelby County resident.

 

Dwain was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II from 1945 to 1946. He was privileged to go on the Indy Honor Flight on April 5, 2014.

 

He formerly owned and operated, Laird Grain Company from 1951 to 1972. In 1977, he became a field representative for the Indiana State Board of Tax Commissioners, retiring in 1990. From 1980 until 2014, he owned Laird Local Government Service.

 

Dwain served his community by being elected Liberty Township Trustee in 1954 and 1958, in 1966 he was elected to the Shelby County Council and then as Shelby County Auditor in 1970 and 1974. He was also the Honorary State Treasurer in 1995.

 

He was also a member and past president of the Southeast District of the Association of Indiana Counties and Association of Indiana Counties.

 

Dwain was an over 50-year member of the Waldron Masonic Lodge No. 217, Murat Shrine and Scottish Rite.

 

He was also an IHSAA Sports Official, officiating basketball, football, baseball and softball from 1946 to 2011. Dwain officiated the State Finals in baseball in 1973 and the State Finals in girls softball in 1990. He and his brothers, Bob and Bill, and brother-in-law, John Bush, officiated basketball, football and baseball games all over the state of Indiana. After graduating, he formed a fast pitch softball team, which led to him playing and or managing the following teams: Liberty Merchants in 1944, State Bank of Waldron in 1946, Stone Fish Chevrolet in 1950, McCain Insurance, and WSVL Team. In 1963, he started the slow pitch softball league in Shelby County. In 1993, he formed, played and managed the Indiana Silver Foxes Softball Team. He also organized and started the Mid-Hoosier Umpire Association.

 

Dwain was honored by being inducted into the Softball Players Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Indiana Softball Hall of Fame in 2012. Another honor bestowed upon Dwain, was the naming of the Blue River Park Diamond No. 2, the Dwain Laird Field.

 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 26, 2019 at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 3718 E. Blue Ridge Road, in Shelbyville, with Masonic Rites conducted at 7:30 p.m.

 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2019 at the church, with Rev. Dr. Robb Barlow and Rev. Alecia Gross officiating.

 

Interment will be at Mount Pisgah Cemetery in Shelby County, with military graveside rites conducted by the local military committee.

 

Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville.

 

Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Pisgah Baptist Church Building Fund and Riley Hospital for Children, 702 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202.

Online condolences may be shared with Dwain’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

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