Doris Marie (Barnhart) Dobbs
Dr. William Thomas Jackson, 90, of Fishers, Indiana passed away on January 11, 2024. Bill was born January 26, 1933 in New Haven, Connecticut to the late Richard Willet and Dorothy (Gee) Jackson.
Bill grew up in Philadelphia and Peoria. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois where he was a member of Delta Phi Fraternity and played clarinet in the marching band. He took great pride in marching at the Rose Bowl when his Fighting Illini attended in 1951. Bill went on to earn a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, followed by a post-doctorate at the California Institute of Technology.
During his 40 years as an immunologist at Eli Lilly and Company, Bill was a key contributor to many patents and scientific publications until his retirement in 1998. Throughout his life, Bill had a hunger for knowledge and had many interests. He avidly read on history, philosophy, and baseball; belonged to several book clubs; took up studying new languages such as Japanese, Mandarin and Korean; and above all held great interest in the pursuits of his family members. Bill also loved classical music and opera and often talked about attending Wagner’s Bayreuth Festival as a young man.
Bill traveled extensively, visiting five continents and making friends everywhere he went. He relaxed by taking walks, going for Sunday drives, solving sudoku puzzles and doing jigsaw puzzles with his daughter, Lisa. He religiously followed the New York Yankees from the age of 10 and never missed his son Terry’s little league games. He also loved outdoor activities. During his college years, he enjoyed rappelling, and climbed Mount Rainier in his 40s.
Bill’s nature was to always smile, laugh, and make jokes. He loved spending time with younger people and particularly delighted in trying to make them laugh. He not only generously loved and gave time to his own children and grandchildren but he became a grandfatherly figure to friends Eve and Joe Zhang and Turner Detrick.
When asked what he thought the meaning of life was he replied, “Life is a series of changing relationships.” He was a brilliant and beautiful soul who gave love to everyone he encountered without asking anything in return.
Bill was recently preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Lynn (McDaniels) Jackson; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Guy and Alyssa McDaniels, Jr. and nephew, David McDaniels. He is survived by his beloved children, Lisa Michelle Jackson and Terry (Marni Hochman) Jackson; grandchildren, Atlas (Ren) Feigel and Thai Jackson; sister, Marianna Jackson; nephew, Grant (Bonnie Glendinning) McDaniels; grand-cats, Laila Ali, Kichi, Cosy, and Kiba; and countless dear friends.
Memorial services for Lynn and Bill will be announced soon. Memorial contributions name are suggested to: Black Girls Do STEM (https://bgdstem.com/) or PFLAG (https://pflag.org/)
Online condolences available at www.leppertmortuary.com
Doris Marie (Barnhart) Dobbs, of Greenwood, previously of Indianapolis, passed away on January 14, 2024, at the age 91. She was born on December 30, 1932, the youngest of three girls, to Harry and Minnie (Degener) Barnhart in Indianapolis.
She was a lifetime member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, a member of Prospect Chapter #452 Order of the Easter Star, an active member of the Dorcas Circle at St. John’s, and even organized the church library. .
After graduating from Southport High School in 1950, a close friend introduced Doris to Kenneth Dale Dobbs. They married on August 7, 1953, had 2 children, and celebrated 63 years of marriage until Kenny preceded her in death in 2016.
Doris was a homemaker until 1972 when she went to work for St. John’s Preschool Program. Then in 1974, she became a clerk at the Southport Branch Library where she retired after 20 years in 1994.
Doris was an avid reader and after retirement, she and Kenny enjoyed traveling across the country, sometimes with other family members.
She is survived by her children, Mark (Pam) Dobbs and Barbara Dobbs; grandchildren, Rachel (Joe) Tonte and Jacob Dobbs and one great grandchild, Connor Tonte.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Wilma Pieper, Margorie Wagoner and one great grandchild, Cooper Tonte.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at G. H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Avenue.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024 at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 7031 S. East Street, Indianapolis, with additional visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She will be laid to rest at Washington Park East Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ, 7031 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227 or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Greenwood Village South Pavilion and Main Street Hospice for their care and support.
Please share memories, photographs and online condolences with the family at www.ghherrmann. com.