James D. (Jim) Bartlett

 
 
 James D. (Jim) Bartlett, 94, of Carmel, Indiana departed 
this life on Friday, July 22, 2022. 



Jim was born April 22, 1928 in Indianapolis to the late M. Crosby and 
Dorothy (Brown) Bartlett. 
 



 
In 7th grade, Jim met 
Marilyn Snyder, and she would become the most important person  
in his life. 



He attained Battalion Commander at Culver Military Academy, and was a 1947 graduate of 
Lake Forest  Academy. 



He subsequently attended Purdue University and Butler University where he was a pharmacy 
major, and  a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. 



In 1951 Jim married Marilyn and enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served 
his  country during the Korean War as a Staff Sergeant, Basic Training Instructor and Air Traffic 
Controller. 



A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Jim dedicated his free time to spend with his extended 
family. 



He was a kind and gentle soul who was passionate about leadership, organization, efficiency and 
safety;  he always gave his best. Jim donated his time, resources and skills to assist many organizations, 
including  the Boys Club of Noblesville, the Indiana Retail Council, St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild, Kiwanis 
International, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and the Boy Scouts of America.

 

Outside of military service,  Jim lived his entire life in the Indianapolis area, and built his “dream home” 
at 9000 Pickwick Drive,  where  he and Marilyn raised their family and enjoyed entertaining, especially 
with their many friends. 



Jim worked in commercial sales with companies in the construction materials, petroleum, plastics and 
hardware industries. 



He also founded and ran Major Hardware, a successful HWI retail business in Noblesville, IN. 



Jim was industrious his whole life. 



As a young man, he became an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, where he also earned award 
designations as a member of Order-of-the-Arrow, Firecrafter, and Minisino. 



As a senior, he designed and constructed a dormitory to provide housing for homeless children, and 
subsequently a sanitary water supply facility while traveling in Kenya with his wife Marilyn. 


Jim spent most vacations with his family enjoying the outdoors. 



He and his wife Marilyn led their five children on camping and hiking expeditions in national forests 
and parks across the US. Jim and Marilyn also enjoyed hosting their children and grandchildren for 
family-oriented activities including skiing, sailing, and other activities together at their vacation 
homes in Culver, IN (Lake Maxinkuckee), and Bonita Springs, FL where they were very active in the 
local communities. 



Jim was an accomplished woodworker, donating his time and skills to design and make thousands of 
practical items and wood toys for children in his personal woodworking shop. 



He also enjoyed working alongside fellow woodworkers in a sub-group of the Carmel Golden K Kiwanis 


Club. 

As a competitive sailor, Jim raced successfully in many sailing regattas in his Interlake-class boat, 
and open-water sailing on live-aboard vessels with family and friends around the world, with his 
love Marilyn always at his side as first-mate. Jim was a member of and certified as Captain by the 
US Power Squadron. He served as Commodore of the Indianapolis Sailing Club and the Maxinkuckee Yacht 


Club. 

Jim and Marilyn were members of Highland Country Club and Meridian Hills Country Club, both in Indianapolis. 



Jim loved birdwatching, photography and identification, taking up the hobby with Marilyn. Together, 
they enjoyed “birding” with friends across the US for many years. Jim served on the board and as 
treasurer for the Pickwick of Indianapolis HOA for 22 years, and subsequently served as board member 
and president of the Williams Mill HOA in Carmel. 



He also served as a board member of the Indiana Retail Council, and Boy Scouts’ Central Indiana Council. 
He was honored to be named as a Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Otis Bowen. 



Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Marilyn Snyder Bartlett; brother, Dale 
Sterling Bartlett; grandson, Jonathon Ryan Gottlieb; and son-in-law, Richard Keith Cooper. 



Jim is survived by five children, James D. Bartlett Jr. (Michele), Elizabeth B. Foland, Thomas M. 
Bartlett (Rosie Hirsch), Matthew Clark Bartlett (Cindy), and Amy B. Cooper; nine grandchildren, 
James D. Bartlett III (Erin Howland), Elizabeth Wertz (Jared), Crosby Foland (Aliese), Matthew Clayton 
Bartlett, Rachel Hirsch, Melissa Bartlett (Thomas Attack); Caroline Bartlett; Steven Bartlett (Megan), 
Joseph Gottlieb (Michelle), Jennifer Anselmi (Jeremy), Andrew Cooperfauss; and eight great-grandchildren. 



Funeral services for Jim will be held on Monday, August 1st, 2022 at Leppert Mortuary, 740 E. 86th St., 
Indianapolis, IN. 



Calling will be from 10:00am to 12 noon; services will follow from 12 noon to 1:00pm. 



A private interment ceremony for family members will be at Crown Hill Cemetery that afternoon. 



Memorial contributions in Jim’s name are suggested to Indy Honor Flight, PO Box 10, Plainfield, IN 46168 



Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. leppertmortuary. com for the Bartlett  
family.-  The Indianapolis Star