Russell G. Worman, age 72, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2020 in Mesa, AZ. He was born August 15, 1947 in Fort Wayne, IN to Donald and Betty (Berry) Worman. Russ graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne with the Class of 1965. Russ grew up hunting and fishing with his father and younger brother, the late Barry Worman, creating a love for adventure and the great outdoors that would last a lifetime. After high school, Russ attended Indiana State University to become a teacher. During his time at ISU, he played football as a “Fighting Sycamore” and belonged to the TKE fraternity. Dubbed the “Wild Man” by his fraternity brothers, Russ participated in antics far surpassing those of John Belushi in the movie Animal House.
After graduating, Russ taught industrial technology, health, and physical education, as well as coached at the high school level. In 1970, he was drafted to the Army to serve at Camp Colbern, Korea during the Vietnam War. Russ served as a SergeantsMissile Crewman with the 81st Field Artillery, 4th Missile Command, earning numerous awards and distinctions for marksmanship skills.
The seemingly perpetual bachelor eventually settled down and married the former Janet Davidson in Indianapolis on February 23, 1985. She survives him, along with his daughters Amber Worman (Kyle Christie) of Indianapolis, IN and Katelynn (Logan) Corbin of Chandler, AZ. Being a kid at heart, Russ took to raising two daughters with vigor, instilling his thirst for knowledge, learning, humor, and the notion that being normal is boring. Some of his stubbornness and grit may have stuck too!
In addition to his 30+ year career as a teacher and coach, Russ was faculty at Marion University and Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI), as well as a defensive line coach for a semi-pro football team, EMT, drivers education instructor, and professionally trained bartender, not to mention a long-time hog calling judge at the local county fair. He was truly a lifelong learner and adventure seeker, whether he was on a 21-day outward bound survival trip in the mountains of Colorado, applying for the Teacher in Space program for the Challenger space shuttle mission, or just enjoying his favorite science fiction book.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery in Chandler, AZ with burial and Military Honors to follow in the Garden of Honor. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until service time at the funeral home.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses, doctors, and staff at Chandler Regional Medical Center and Montecito Post Acute Care & Rehabilitation for their unwavering support, care, and compassion.
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