John Erwin Etling, 85, of Terre Haute passed away Monday morning, April 6, 2015. He was a school teacher for 34 years and most recently was the founder and Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Terre Haute for 32 years until his retirement on May 1, 2005. John was born June 27, 1929 in Terre Haute to John Etling and Glenna Erwin Etling. Survivors include his beloved wife of 59 years, Patricia Jeanne Carbon Etling; ten children, Pamela Devine and her husband, Matt, of Lafayette, IN, John C. Etling and his wife, Carol, of Terre Haute, Patti Beddow and her husband, Randy, of Terre Haute, Joseph Etling and his wife, Gretchen, of Terre Haute, Paje Felts and her husband, Chris, of Indianapolis, James Etling of Cincinnati, OH, Polly Harshberger and her husband, Wayne, of Oswego, IL, Jay Etling and his wife, Melissa, of Terre Haute and Jeff Etling and his wife, Miranda Goodale, of Brazil, IN; 31 grandchildren, Thomas Devine, John P. Etling, Mary Ann Etling, Erin Etling, Sara Etling, Claire Etling, Cami Beddow, Patricia Beddow, Allison Beddow, Elizabeth Beddow, Jay Beddow, Andrew Beddow, Kevin Beddow, Bridgette Beddow, Joey Etling, Mary Kate Etling, Danny Etling, Meaghan Etling, Gretchen Anne Etling, Patrick Felts, Maddi Felts, Jacqui Felts, Anni Felts, Gigi Felts, Beth Harshberger, John Harshberger, Katie Harshberger, Jay Jacob "JJ" Etling, Vivian Etling, Lucy Etling, Veronica Etling and a grandson on the way; a sister-in-law, Camilla (Cam) Carbon; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jerrold Albert Etling; a sister, Betty Marquis; and a great-granddaughter, Lily Beddow-Sneed. John was a 1947 graduate of Garfield High School and received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Art Education from Indiana State University. He continued classes towards his Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. While at ISU John was a member of the varsity football team and was an "I Man". From 1951-1953 he served in the United State Navy during the Korean War. During his teaching career, John taught at Crown Point (Indiana) Public Schools, Cincinnati (Ohio) Public Schools and Vigo County School Corporation where he taught at Concannon Junior High School, West Vigo Middle School and Chauncey-Rose Middle School. He also was an art instructor at the Swope Art Museum and Gibault School for Boys. After teaching, John was hired part-time by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to start Catholic Charities of Terre Haute in 1973. On February 1, 1981 he was appointed as the Executive Director and served there until his retirement in 2005. While at Catholic Charities he helped develop several programs including; Simeon House Congregate Living, Bethany House Emergency Shelter for the Homeless, Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall, the Christmas Store and the Household Exchange. For his service to the Terre Haute community and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis John was honored with the Pro Ecclesia it Pontifice, an award given by (then) Pope John Paul II, which is the highest Roman Catholic Award given to church laity. Additionally, he was the recipient of the Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara Respect Life Award (given to both John and Pat Etling), the Award of Merit given by Council #541 Knights of Columbus of Terre Haute, Sagamore of the Wabash, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonel, Archdiocesan Citation of Merit, Hospice of the Wabash Valley Chapman S. Root Award for outstanding contributions to the Quality of Life in the Wabash Valley, naming of Etling Hall at Ryves Youth Center, the Harry S. Truman Club Distinguished Citizen Award and was a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. John was actively involved in the Terre Haute community having served as; president of the Vigo County Federation of Teachers, president of the Wabash Valley Labor Council, vice-president of the Terre Haute Committee for Area Progress, board member of Hamilton Center, board member of Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department, secretary of Terre Haute Urban Renewal Commission, vice president of United Way of the Wabash Valley, president of Harrison Township Advisory Board, Board of Overseers of Swope Art Museum, Phi Delta Kappa- Alpha Iota Chapter, Iota Lambda Sigma Fraternity- Omicron Chapter, president of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Advisory Board of Consumer Credit Counseling Service and served on the board of directors of the Vigo, Clay, Vermillion and Parke Counties F.E.M.A. He was a long-time member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Council #541 Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Knights of Columbus, Terre Haute Serra Club and Terre Haute Elks Lodge #86. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 11, 2015 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1807 Poplar Street, with Father Rick Ginther officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors provided by American Legion Post #104. Visitation is scheduled for Friday from 4:00-8:00 P.M. with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street. The family kindly requests that memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, 1801 Poplar Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803. Funeral information may also be found at www.callahanandhughes.com .
