| Graduation Year | Class of 1957 |
| Date of Passing | Feb 05, 2016 |
| About | Herbert Leslie Saxon, Jr., 76, was born on December 19, 1939 in Connersville, Indiana to Herbert Leslie and Lillie (Shuman) Saxon, Sr. As a young boy, he prayed that God would make his life an adventure. God did just that. Herb graduated from Rushville High School in 1957 and from Ball State University, earning his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Education degrees. Herb was awarded certificates of appreciation and received the Research Grant Award, Office of Research, Ball State University twice while pursuing his graduate studies. He served in the United States Army from January, 1959 to December, 1965. He worked as a mechanic, motor sergeant, section chief of a fuel and electrical systems repair and rebuild section, wheel and track vehicle inspector, instructor at the 5th Army NCO Academy Motor Sergeant and Motor Officer Training Course, unit troop information specialist, unit general military subject training NCO, and acting battalion operations sergeant. In general, his duties were to act as a technical supervisor and small unit leader for 5-20 men in both garrison and field situations. Herb was honored by the 71st Ordinance Battalion for his outstanding performance of duty. Most recently, Herb was employed as an associate professor at IVY Tech Community College, teaching courses in anatomy and physiology, as well as biology. Decades earlier, he worked for IVY Tech as instructor of automotive mechanics and, later, assistant director of their Prison Project at the Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, Indiana. While completing his EdD, he worked to develop and maintain Ball State University’s Christy Woods, as well as the other Biology Department field areas. Upon retirement from Ball State, Dr. Saxon taught biology at Ball State. Herb was a self-employed cabinet maker in Metamora, operating a woodworking and art studio for four years. Prior to that, he was a home improvement contractor in Rushville, operating a painting, wall papering and carpentry business. His first teaching job was at St. Mary School, Rushville, in the early 1970’s. He taught all subjects to seventh and eighth graders. Regarding travel, Herb was stationed in Germany while serving in the military and traveled extensively through Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. He also lived in Texas for several years, stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. Later, he and his wife, ..., chaperoned high school students, traveling to Madrid, Paris, London, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii. His faith, music, painting, drawing, and writing were always part of Herb’s life. Since his retirement from IVY Tech in December, 2014, Herb began his quest to write an historic novel about his family’s arrival to the United States. Surviving are his wife of fifteen years, ...; sons and daughters, ...; grandchildren, ...; great-grandson ...; brothers and sisters, ...; many nieces and nephews, and his second wife, .... Herb was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Kay Saxon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m., Friday, February 12, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1200 W. Riverside Avenue, with Fr. John Kiefer presiding. Burial will follow in Jones Cemetery, with full military honors provided by The United States Army and the Veterans of Delaware County. Friends may call at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1200 W. Riverside Avenue from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12, 2016. Memorial contributions may be directed to DAV - Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH, 45250-0301. |
