Ottis Fred "Charlie" Hatmaker

Ottis Fred "Charlie" Hatmaker, 80, of Noblesville, passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Harbour Manor Care Center in Noblesville.  He was born on June 20, 1942 to Fred and Lucille (Sellers) Hatmaker in Wheat, Tennessee.

Charlie was a hardworking, clever and intensely curious man whose inquisitiveness drove all his pursuits. Taught to drive a coal truck at just 9 years old, it sparked a lifelong love of autos. Driven to understand the intricacies of each part and the correct tool for the task, he could build or fix anything and spent many years putting his master mechanic skills to work restoring and maintaining cars.

Charlie and his wife Janet moved to Indiana in the early 1960’s and he began working at Firestone Industrial Products in Noblesville, a company he was with for over 50 years, retiring in 2013 as the Test Lab Supervisor.  He enjoyed retirement and spent many years of laughter and friendship with the guys at the monthly Firestone retirees luncheon.

There were many Sunday mornings spent talking with his Mother on the phone and afternoons spent bicycling with his children (often several counties over) or cruising the backroads with the whole family. Road trips back to where he and Janet grew up in Tennessee were filled with stories of a rich family history and a love of the community that shaped him. Always eager to keep up on hometown news, he still subscribed to the LaFollette Press and several other newspapers.

Eager to take on a challenge, Charlie did everything with honesty and integrity and was loved by all who knew him.  Generous and loyal, he always made time to help others.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Janet Hatmaker; sons, Glenn Hatmaker and David (Chalyn) Hatmaker; daughter, Kathryn (Brad) Gibson; brother, Harold (Carol) Hatmaker; sister, Carolyn (Bruce) Cox; 10 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandson, Samuel Ottis.

In addition to his parents, Charlie was preceded in death by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Crownland Cemetery, 1776 Monument Street in Noblesville, with Rev. Stanley R. Sutton officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 (www.diabetes.org).

Condolences:  www.randallroberts.com