Stephen “Steve” Gharst Wirts

stephen-wirts

Stephen “Steve” Gharst Wirts, 82, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sept. 8, 2018.

He was born in 1936 in Washington, Indiana, to Ruby Everett and Adeline Mae (Gharst) Wirts. He graduated from Washington High School (Class of 1954) and Indiana University (Class of 1958) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business.

He served in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of captain. He worked in three department stores before moving back to Washington to open The Wardrobe, which was a significant part of Washington’s Main Street for 20 years. He retired as an insurance agent, serving the Washington community with health and life insurance.

Steve enjoyed spending time on his horse farm, riding, showing and judging Tennessee walking horses and working on projects in his woodworking shop. He was fond of vintage cars and antiques. He loved to read about history, especially the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. He was an avid fan of Indiana University basketball and the Indianapolis Colts.
Steve is preceded in death by his brother, Tom Wirts, and is survived by his wife, Mary Jane (Musgrave) Wirts; children, Sarah (Yancy) Gill, Nancy (Doug) Miller, Andrew (Julayne) Wirts; sister

Gretchen Brittain; 12 grandchildren, Caroline Smith Reynolds, Hannah Smith Scharlau, Reid Smith, Matthew Gill, Taylor Miller, Jacob Miller, Madison Wirts, Garrett Wirts, Mitchell Wirts, Samuel Wirts, Rachel Wirts Lauren Wirts; and five great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at 3 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 110 N.E. Second St., Washington, IN 47501. Memorial donations may be given to Purposeful Design, 1710 Jenkins St., Indianapolis, IN 46218, a non-profit mission whose purpose is to teach woodworking skills to create employment opportunities that help rebuild lives of individuals broken by addiction or homelessness or the Westminster Presbyterian Church. You may leave an online tribute or condolence for the family at www.indianafuneralcare.com