Charles McCrory

Judge Charles “Chuck” Keith McCrory, 92, of Terre Haute passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at his residence. He was born May 18, 1930, in Berne to John L. and Agnes (Habegger) McCrory.
He attended Berne High School where he was active in basketball and baseball, then continued his education at Indiana University. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration in 1952 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law in 1955.
He married the love of his life, Carol, in 1952, and after his graduation from law school, the couple moved to Terre Haute. He began his law career practicing with the firm of Dix, Dix, Patrick & Ratcliffe from 1955 to 1958, then opened his own law practice. From 1958 to 1965, he also served as deputy prosecutor of Vigo County and was chief trial deputy for five of those years. He was then elected judge of Vigo County Superior Court Division 2 in 1965 and remained in that position for 32 years until he retired in 1997. Even after retirement, he continued serving where needed as a senior judge in Vigo and surrounding counties.
He was a devoted member of Centenary United Methodist Church, serving on many of the church committees. He also worked constantly to improve judicial practice. He was a past president and member of the Terre Haute Bar Association, a member of the Indiana State Bar Association where he chaired the Committee for Improvement of the Judiciary, and was a member of the American Bar Association. He served as a delegate to the National Conference of State Trial Judges, on the Board of Managers of the Indiana Judges Association and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Indiana Judicial Center in Indianapolis. He was additionally  appointed by the governor to serve on the Governor’s Committee for the Study of Mental Health. He was the proud recipient of many awards for his service, including the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Kentucky Colonel and the Hamilton Center Award for Community Service.
When not working for his beloved profession, he enjoyed golfing and fishing, particularly when living at the family’s country farm where he was often seen high on a tractor. He and his wife were famous with friends for their beanpot parties.
He is survived by his son, Michael K. (Patricia) McCrory; two daughters, Sue A. (William) Whitman; and Jill L. McCrory; sister Carol Balsiger; four grandchildren, Justin McCrory; Katherine McCrory; Ethan Kestenman; and Jesse Kestenman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and brother, James McCrory.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the 6:30 p.m. funeral service Tuesday, June 21 at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th St., Terre Haute. Officiating will be Rev. Mel Camp. A private family burial will be at Highland Lawn Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Wabash Valley at https://visitingnursehospiceofthewabashvalley.salsalabs.org/donationinmemoryhonorof/index.html or to the horse rescue and rehabilitation center established by his daughter Sue: Horse-Angels, Inc., 8262 Switchboard Road, Spencer, IN 47460.
Arrangements provided by Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home in Terre Haute. Online condolences may be made to www.callahanandhughes.com.