Russell Albert Ficklin

Russell Albert Ficklin, 74, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Russell was born October 8, 1948 in Indianapolis, Indiana the son of the late Herbert and Belva Jean Ficklin.

Russ graduated from Ben Davis High School in 1966. He was an athlete in high school and played on the baseball and basketball teams (and even won a Marion County championship title). Russ and LaDonna married after high school, and then he joined the US Navy. He was stationed in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Newfoundland, Canada and worked as a Radioman tracking submarines by radar during the Vietnam War. It was during this time that he developed a love for the beach.

After the Navy, Russ and LaDonna returned to Indiana where he spent the rest of his working career at Link-Belt/Rexnord, formerly FMC, on the ball bearing assembly line. He was a hard worker, giving up many a weekends boating at Heritage Lake to work overtime instead at the factory to provide for his family. After retiring from Link-Belt/Rexnord, he worked part-time as an usher for the Indianapolis Indians.

As USAC’s #1 fan, he enjoyed racing slot cars and attending sprint car races at dirt tracks all over the Midwest. He has been a season ticket holder for the Indianapolis Colts since 1985 and took a once in a lifetime trip in 2010 to watch the Colts vs Saints (and “The Who” perform at halftime) in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL. He also loved baseball and made it a tradition to take his family to a Chicago Cubs or Cincinnati Reds game every summer. He cheered for Indiana and was an IU fan in college sports. His other hobbies included playing golf, collecting racing memorabilia, reading books, including the Bible, and listening to music—classic country, Golden oldies, blues, Motown, and rock ‘n roll. He was a member of Gracepoint Church in New Whiteland and dedicated his life to serving the Lord. He was the epitome of a family man and loved his wife, children, and grandchildren dearly.

Russell is survived by his wife of 55 years: LaDonna Ficklin, daughters: Jennifer (Mike) Bloomer and Mary Elizabeth (Shaun) Peterson, brothers: Herb Ficklin and Greg (Rebecca) Coward, 3 grandchildren (Shelby, Laney, and Lylah) and 2 great grandchildren (Abby and Jackson).

A visitation for Russell will be held Tuesday, March 14, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Family Funeral Care-Rockville West, 5791 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana 46224, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM.

Russell will be laid to rest in Floral Park Cemetery, 425 N Holt Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.familyfuneralcareindy.com for the Ficklin family.