John Arthur Stewart

John Arthur Stewart, 96, died in Greensburg, IN on March 5, 2016 he was a Christian, farmer, seedsman and purebred livestock breeder. He was born at home on May 5, 1919 in Decatur County to the late Arthur Carter and Mary Robbins Stewart. He married his college sweetheart, Alberta Jeannette Densford, on March 14, 1942 in Greensburg, IN. After 71+ years of marriage, and for the last decade of Alberta’s life during which time John was a devoted and loving caregiver to her, Alberta died on February 8, 2013. He graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Agriculture in 1941. After three and one-half years of military service in the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific Theatre during WWII, he went into partnership with his brother, Gilman, and father, Arthur, in the family farming business now known as Stewart Seeds. Stewart received an Honorary Doctorate of Agriculture Degree from Purdue University in 1974. His portrait was hung in the Purdue Livestock Hall of Fame in 1972. He was twice awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor awarded by the Governor of Indiana; Stewart’s two awards were distinctive because Stewart received them from governors of both political parties. John often talked that his philosophy of life and farming was to leave the land better than he found it, and our world is a better place because John Arthur Stewart passed by here. Also important in John’s life were those people whose lives he touched –customers and employees at Stewart Seeds, neighbors, and church and Purdue friends. He took great delight in spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family. He received numerous other awards throughout his life, and was a member, director and officer of many organizations including Farm Bureau, American Legion, VFW, Decatur County Rural Couples Club, South Park Cemetery Board, American Soybean Association, Indiana Crop Improvement Board and Purdue Ag Alumni Board. He served for 12 years on the Purdue University Board of Trustees, and for 34 years as a director of Decatur County Bank. Stewart was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher and in other positions of leadership; served as president of American Baptist Churches of Indiana and on the board of American Baptist Churches USA. Survivors include his daughters Barbara Stewart (Patricia Archbold), Montpelier, VT; Carol (Barry) Wood, Collinsville, TX; Janet (Steve) Gunn, Greensburg, IN; and sons Paul A. Stewart (Susan Rhodes), Indianapolis, IN; and Jim Stewart (Susan Sturges), Greensburg, IN; 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters: Marietta, who died in infancy; Elizabeth Ann (Sheldon) Smith; and Rachel Geneva Stump (Robert G. Stump of Winchester survives); and a brother, Gilman Carter Stewart (Virginia). A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Greensburg on April 16, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 209 W. Washington St., Greensburg, IN 47240; Our Hospice of Decatur/Shelby, 1201 N. Lincoln St, Greensburg, IN 47240 (ourhospice.org); Purdue Foundation for the Livestock Judging Team Endowment, 403 West Wood St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 (Giving.Purdue.edu/InMemoryofJohnStewart); or the charity of your choice. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.gilliland-howe.com