Mr. Robert I. Udell

March 10, 1915- September 25, 2016

Robert I Udell (Bob), age 101, died peacefully on September 25, 2016, in Rockville, Maryland where he had been living near his only son, Jerry G. Udell and his daughter-in-law Marilyn Weil Udell since early 2016. Prior to moving to Rockville, Bob lived in Indianapolis his entire life and lived on Udell Street in his early life. He was a descendant of the founders of the Udell Wooden Ware Works, a Prominent Hoosier Business from 1870 to 1952.

A graduate of Shortridge High School, as was his wife and son and an alumni of Butler University, Bob founded Udell Engineering which sold castings, forgings and high alloy metals before, during and after World War II, to such clients as Ge and Allison Division of General Motors.

In the early 50’s, Bob was one of four Indianapolis men who founded Little League Baseball in the city. In 1985, he also served on the committee that commissioned and published the definitive history of Shortridge High School.

He served as a member of the Small Business Administration’s Service Corps of Retired Executives where he counseled central Indiana business persons on strategy and tactics designed to start and expand their enterprises.

True to his namesake, Bob was an accomplished wood worker. After he closed his private residence, he donated his wood shop to the Golden K Kiwanis Club of Carmel, The shop Bears his name today where Kiwanis members annually produce thousands of children’s toys and assists for hospitals, and devises for disabled and senior citizens. Bob’s donations of the woodshop and training of Kiwanis members to operate the tools resulted in his being named a George F. Hixson Fellow, one of the Kiwanis Club’s highest awards.

Bob began water color painting at age 90 under the tutelage of one of Indiana’s most prominent artist and a close personal friend, Dorthy Chase. The paintings, done in the last 10 years of his life filled the walls of his home and those of family and friends.

In addition to his son and daughter-in-law, Bob is survived by granddaughter, Laurie Piazza of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Catherine and Christopher Brehm. He’s also survived by great grandchildren Abbey, Steven and Mark Piazza, and Danial and Margaret Brehm, as well as a wealth of other treasured friends and family members.