Terry A. Brock

The journey of Terry A. Brock, of Naples, Florida, came to an end the morning of September 3, 2026, at Avow Hospice in Naples, FL. A former resident of Peru and Wabash, Indiana, he resided in Naples since 1991.

Mr. Brock was born in Indianapolis, IN on January 26, 1937, and was adopted by Reginald “Rex” and Elda (Dawalt) Brock, of Peru, IN. After graduating from Peru High School, he attended the Jordan College of Music at Butler University. He played the trumpet in both concert and marching bands, and later performed for five years on both trumpet and drums with the 38th Division Army National Guard band that was stationed in Muncie, IN.

Terry and his wife Carol owned Brock’s Music Center in Wabash, IN for 15 years, which was formerly Emrick’s Music Store. The Music Center offered lessons on most instruments and voice lessons, which were taught by over 30 different teachers, and he especially loved watching the enthusiasm and progress of the younger students. In addition to instrument and voice lessons, Terry also enjoyed taking students, teachers, and guests on educational and informational tours of nearby band instrument, piano, and string instrument factories in Elkhart, IN, Grand Haven, MI and Kalamazoo, MI. The Center also provided band and string instrument repairs, piano tuning and rebuilding, and organ repairs and service. Brock’s Music Center co-hosted the first local talent performance by two of their teachers to a sold-out attendance at the Honeywell Center. The Music Center also hosted several nationally prominent performers and teachers for seminars and recitals for the Center's students, area teachers, and anyone else who was interested in attending.

Prior to acquiring the Music Center in Wabash, Terry was employed at the H.A. Thrush Company in Peru. After the Music Center closed, Terry passed the Indiana State Insurance License Board examination and worked for The Equitable of New York and Nationwide Insurance companies. After that, he worked at the Meis department store in Marion, IN, which later became part of the larger Elder-Beerman group. He was the assistant store manager at Meis before moving to Naples. He spent time at the Hart, Schaffner, & Marx garment factory in Chicago and was a men’s tailored clothing specialist from 1991 to 2004 before retiring from Dillard’s department store in Naples, so he spent 42 years in the world of retail. After retiring from Dillard’s, he worked part-time at a local automobile dealership for almost 4 years. He then enjoyed a short stint as a volunteer with the LVCC (Literacy Volunteers of Collier County) working with adult students whose first language was not English.

Other accomplishments and memberships included: serving on the Board of Directors for The Wabash Valley Music Association; President of the retail division of the Wabash Chamber of Commerce; President of Wabash Community Service, Inc.; Treasurer of Community Service foundation; Distinguished President of the Wabash Optimist Club; Lieutenant Governor of the Indiana district of Optimist International; member of the National Association of Music Merchants, Small Business Bureau, and Conn Citation Club; completed courses at the Lowery Institute of Retail Merchandising in Chicago, IL; and served two terms on the Board of his condominium association in Royal Bay Villas. He was also a past member of the Wabash Country Club and the Elks Club.

Other activities included: organizing Brock’s Sauerkraut Polka Band, which performed locally and in surrounding towns for over 12 years; organizing a football pep band for a Pete Rish football team; and being a member of the Peru Circus City volunteers, where he worked as a “roustabout” and played in the first circus band.

Terry was a "shutterbug" (amateur photographer) and a motor sports enthusiast for most of his life. He enjoyed and attended activities and races at the Indianapolis 500, Michigan 500, road racing events at Elkhart Lake, WI, Daytona and Sebring, FL among others. He also had a very good sense of humor, which he loved to share with others. Terry was a life-long avid reader and wrote many memos by authors whose subject matter was of interest, which he incorporated into some of his own writing.

He was extremely proud of family accomplishments and very much enjoyed spending time with his family. Having met his future wife during his high school band days, he was pleased that both sons and all three grandchildren had school band experiences with one sitting in first chair and playing Grandpa's Schilke coronet.

Terry’s beloved wife Carol preceded him in death on February 2, 2026, after 67 years of marriage. Surviving are his two sons, Derek (Pam) in Naples, FL and Devin (Paula) in Valrico, FL; three grandchildren, Penny, Mitchell (Marissa), and Sam; and two great-grandsons, Jaidyn and Kendall. He is also survived by a biological sister, Helen (Townsend) Hendricks, who was unknown to Terry until 2004, and two nephews and a niece; brothers-and-sisters-in law Richard (Madonna) Baker, William Baker, Debbie (Gary) Downing, and many nieces and nephews. Other family members who preceded him in death were brothers-and-sisters-in law Stanley Hendricks, Robert (Mildred) Baker, Valerie Baker, and Barbara (Don) Grable.

Per Terry’s wishes, there will be no formal memorial service. If one wishes to honor his memory with a contribution, his preferences are: Wabash Valley Music Association @ Honeywell Center, 275 West Canal Street, Wabash, Indiana, 46992; or The Wounded Warrior Project (or similar project). Condolences, memories, stories, etc., will be appreciated by the family and may be posted on the Dignity Memorial site.