Theodore Joseph “Ted” Bartley, age 96, of Ireland, Indiana, passed away at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 3, 2023, in St. Charles Health Campus in Jasper, Indiana.
Ted was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1927, in Ferdinand, Indiana, to Joseph and Mary (Thyen) Bartley. He married his wife of 40 years, Dorothy Mae Hopf, on August 24, 1948, and she preceded him in death on November 4, 1988. He then married Mary Jane Padgett on October 3, 1991, and she preceded him in death on December 15, 2010.
Ted is a U.S. Army Veteran, who served during World War II at the Caribbean Defense Command Headquarters in Panama City, Panama Canal.
He then worked at Ruxer Ford in Jasper, where he retired after a successful and enjoyable career of 68 years selling cars and trucks. During that time, he went to Louisville to train and become more knowledgeable in the new lines of vehicles he was selling, and also became promoted to the Manager of the Truck Division, a title, which he held for 32 years. Ted had a fine reputation for the time and care he took with each and everyone he dealt with; many became loyal customers. At 65, Ted decided to enter his new season of “semi-retirement” and still continued selling cars until 2021. His last car sales was to his granddaughter, Sarah in May 2021 at 94 years of age. He was truly an “energizer bunny” and sold over 12,000 vehicles. He was greatly respected by colleagues and supervisors and contributed mightily to the success of Ruxer Ford in Jasper, IN.
Ted was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Ireland, Indiana, where he was an active and devoted member and served on the finance council. He was awarded the Simon Brute award by St. Mary Parish for his faith-filled service within the parish and the Catholic faith. He was a member of the Ireland Knights of Columbus, where he was a former Grand Knight, and was a member of over 60 years of both the V.F.W. Post #673 and the American Legion Post #147.
Over the years Ted loved spending time with his family at Beaver Lake, where they spent many Sundays waterskiing; so many memories happened in those days spent at Beaver. Ted enjoyed bowling and dancing over the years. During retirement, he continued to be very active and loved golfing, walking on the treadmill, and riding his exercise bike. He had a great sense of humor and a positive attitude and especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
Surviving are one daughter, Sandra (Bob) Walt, Louisville, KY, three sons, Kurt (Catherine) Bartley Arlington, TX, Kevin (Cathy) Bartley, Jasper, IN, and Keith (Christy) Bartley, Jasper, IN, 11 grandchildren, Stephanie (Gary) Weidenborner, Tony (Jenny) Walt, Andrea Walt, Matt (Rachel) Walt, Sarah Bartley, Jennifer (Tim) Hopper, Abby Bartley, Rachel (Mitch) Schwenk, Issac, Avery, and Zeb Bartley, and eight great-grandchildren, Adrian, Alyssa, Landyn, Teddy, Greta, Felix, Caden, and Caleb.
Preceding him in death besides his wives, is one daughter, Marla Jane Bartley, who died in 1955, at the age of seven months, and 10 brothers and sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Theodore Joseph Bartley will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 8, 2023, in St. Mary Catholic Church in Ireland, Indiana, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. V.F.W. Post #673 will conduct military gravesite rites.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service time at the church on Friday.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made to Heart-to-Heart Hospice at 415 E. 6th St., Jasper, IN, 47546, or can be made on their website at htohhfoundation.org.
Condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
