CARMEL - John L. Gradle, 84, of Winona Lake, and formerly of Carmel, died Nov. 18, 2007, in Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne.
He was born May 3, 1923, in Gary, to Homer B. and Elma Krull Gradle. On Nov. 19, 1944, he married Mary Elizabeth Walls, who died July 1, 2004.
Living in Knightstown until 1952, he moved to Carmel, where he resided until 1997, when he moved permanently to the lake house on Tippecanoe Lake. He moved into Grace Village Assisted Living in March 2004.
He graduated from Knightstown High School, where he met his future wife, in 1941. He attended Parks Air College, now part of St. Louis University, where he completed a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1944. He worked for the U. S. Government on experimental aircraft before enlisting in the Army Air Corps. Upon completion of his training, he served in the occupation forces in Japan and on Okinawa until his discharge in December 1946.
He owned Gradle Brothers Inc., a utility construction company once located in Carmel. He served on the board of the National Utility Contractors Association and was president of the Indiana Utility Contractors Association. He was one of a group of contractors instrumental in achieving a merger between IUCA and the Indiana Highway Contractors Association, creating Indiana Constructors Inc.
He was a 55-year member of Carmel Lions Club and belonged to the American Legion. He was a master apprentice in the Masonic Blue Lodge and served as Master of the Knightstown Golden Rule Lodge in 1950. He was also a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis and a Noble in the Murat Shriners.
He was one of the original Carmel Dad's Club organizers and coached Little League, Carmel Pups and County League baseball in the program for several years. He had played high school baseball and continued playing in the armed services and in league play after he was married. He loved baseball, and his son and his grandson inherited that passion.
Surviving are a daughter, Sandra (and spouse Gary) Dowty; a son, John O. (and spouse Sally) Gradle; a granddaughter, Tracey (and spouse Dustin) Blevins; two great-grandsons, Landon and Brody Blevins; and a grandson, Andrew (and spouse Meredith) Gradle.
Leppert Mortuary, Carmel, is in charge of arrangements.
