Mrs. Charleen Wadleigh

Charleen Dabbs Wadleigh, 92, of Indianapolis passed away on April 12, 2014. She was born August 6, 1921 in Butler County, Kentucky to the late Charles P. and Dovie Bailey Dabbs. A 1939 Shortridge High School graduate, she attended Butler University and was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. On June 24, 1944 she married Gerald M. Wadleigh, her best friend and the love of her life.

She and Gerald had an unbridled love of travel. Together they visited 49 states and most Canadian provinces (all by car â€" except Hawaii), Europe and assorted Caribbean Islands. After Gerald’s death, she continued to travel â€" more of this continent, Asia and Europe.

A past member of the Indianapolis Art League, her paintings are cherished by family and friends. She was a long-time member of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, where she was elected as one of the first female deacons. She was a member of Nora Community Council, the Antiquarian Club, and Fort Benjamin Harrison Historical Society.

She is survived by her daughter Susan W. Gard (Robert W. Berry), son William (Donna) Wadleigh, grandchildren Andrew Gard (Kristina Torres), Jennie Lea Wadleigh (Scott Farrell), Laura (Donald) Lucas, Robert R. Berry, Bryan Matt Trager, Tai McCoy and Allen McCoy, 8 great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Anne H. Dabbs. She was preceded in death by her husband, her son Robert M. Wadleigh, and her brother William Robert Dabbs.

Services will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 10:30 AM in the Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 West 38th Street, with visitation Wednesday April 16, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to Butler University (Butler Fund in Memory of Charleen Dabbs Wadleigh), 4600 Sunset Avenue â€" Advancement Office, Indianapolis, IN 46208.