COLUMBUS
Robert Warren Petry entered unexpectedly into eternal rest on July 14, 2024, due to a bicycle accident.
Bob was born August 2, 1951, to Warren Benjamin Petry and Uldine Early Petry in Denver, Colorado. He spent the first 6 years of his life in Louviers, Colorado where his love of the Rocky Mountains began. He then moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to Cherry Hills, New Jersey, and spent his cherished high school years in Ashland, Wisconsin.
He spent the first two years of college at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Then his parents moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and he spent two years at Indiana University-Bloomington-forever a Hoosier.
He started medical school at Indiana University in 1973 and graduated in 1977. Then he did an Internal Medicine Residency at University of Wisconsin-Madison. After a two year stint at Ball State University, he returned to Madison to do a fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology. He was board certified in both Internal Medicine and Allergy. While at the University of Wisconsin, he had articles published in JAMA and Annals of Internal Medicine.
On July 16, 1984, he opened his practice in Columbus, Indiana. It was a successful and thriving practice. He was loved by patients and staff. He would spend hours returning phone calls after hours. He retired July 31, 2018.
Bob was never at a loss for something to do. He had numerous hobbies including photography, fishing, golf, snow skiing (and he would still ski double black diamonds), hiking, woodworking, writing poetry, and biking. He died doing what he loved. He did a yearly fishing trip to Alaska. He wrote a book of children’s poetry which his brother illustrated.
His biggest love was his family. He married Rosanne McAllen Petry June 24, 1978. Together they had three beautiful children, Kathryn Petry-Rich DDS (Nathan) of New Castle, Indiana, Robert Petry (Kati) of Genesee Park, Colorado, and Denise Petry-Stevenson (Darryl) of Noblesville, Indiana.
Katie and Bob enjoyed their trips to Colorado together. Katie always appreciated Bob’s support and encouragement during dental school. She loved how he loved her boys so much.
Bob and Rob enjoyed skiing-mainly Bob trying to keep up with Rob, endless discussions on politics and history. Rob called Bob “his hero”.
Denise worked with Bob for five years as his nurse. They also enjoyed numerous bike rides and recently woodworking. Bob and Denise annoyed Rosie with their music.
All three had the utmost respect and love for their dad.
He had so much pride and joy in his grandchildren. Once he retired, he went with Rosie every Tuesday to babysit Ben and Sean. Ben will be 14 in September and is an outstanding distance runner and top academically in his class. Bob taught Ben to play chess-which Ben stated is one of the things he loved about Grandpa. Bob loved to do calculus for fun, a trait he passed on to Ben who asks for math books to entertain himself.
Sean, who will be 11 in August, possibly connected most with Bob. Bob and Sean loved to play with army men, woodworking, building trains, science experiments, swimming, playing soccer-which he frequently “took out” Bob, and also cooking. Their mutual love for popcorn couldn’t be matched.
Mackenzie, a spunky four year old who couldn’t wait to make pancakes with Bob-blueberry or plain. Bob would “make Baby talk”, swing her as long as she wanted, and swim for hours. When Mackenzie heard Grandpa wasn’t coming home she asked, “Who is going to swing with me?” She was also looking forward to learning how to hammer from Bob. We will work with her so she remembers how wonderful her Grandpa was.
He will also be missed by Izzy, his two year old Brittany Spaniel. He will be joined in Heaven by Tippy, Shannon, Garth, Chance, Tweek, Ike, Libby, Bo, Mecca, and Quinn. Bob loved dogs, and dogs loved him. Davos will miss endless hours of frisbee, and Eva will miss the treats.
Bob loved to teach. Each week he would bring the boys a new vocabulary word on index cards. Education was extremely important to him. He was also a history buff. Some of our fondest memories will be his dog ties and his ability to recite comedic lines from movies such as Tommy Boy, Austin Powers, Major Payne and Inglorious Bastards.
He was always the voice of reason. He loved to play basketball with his kids and grandkids always trying to show off his terrible hook shot while screaming “Kobe!!”
Bob was what every person should be-loving, kind, funny, generous, and highly intelligent. His thirst for learning never ended. He strongly believed there was a wrong way and the Petry way.
The past year Bob had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii with Katie and Nathan’s family. He traveled to Italy and France with Rob and Kati, and to Disney with Denise and Mackenzie.
Rosie is forever grateful for their time together. It was just too short.
He was preceded in death by his parents and niece, Jennifer Mason.
Aside from his wife, children, and grandchildren, he is survived by his sister Jana Mason (Clarence) of Carmel, brother Thomas Petry (Erin) of Lafayette, brother in law Kevin McAllen (Maura) of Mount Prospect, Illinois, sisters in law Mary McAllen and Julie Null (John) of Indianapolis, and stepmother Susan Petry of San Diego. He also had numerous nieces and nephews.
We all need to live like Bob, doing what makes us happy, not caring what others think, being kind, and living life to the fullest.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Bartholomew County Humane Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church with Father Chris Wadelton officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Barkes, Weaver &Glick Funeral Home on Jonathan Moore Pike. A rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday.
Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Indianapolis.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Harrison Lake Country Club at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with Robert’s family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.
