Robert V. Hallam

A man of many talents, Robert Hallam served his country as a solider, his community as a respected businessman, and his family as a loving and devoted father and husband. Bob was not someone consumed by material gains in life, but by the satisfaction of putting his family and friends first and doing the best job he could with whatever task was at hand.

Robert Vernon Hallam entered the world in the middle of the Roaring 20s, a time of excitement and energy in the United States. He was born on July 26, 1926, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to proud parents, Robert A. Sr. and Pearl Frances (Clark) Hallam. Bob was the only child between his parents; however, he had a half brother, Robert A. Jr., and a half sister, who he never got to meet, from his father's first marriage. Amusingly, Bob liked to tell people that he was related to the Dalton Gang on his mother's side.

Although Bob grew up in the Indianapolis area, he resided in at least 18 different homes by the time he was 18. His parents divorced when he was 12, and these hard times made him grow up pretty quickly. At the impressionable age of 10, Bob, along with his mother, was living with his grandfather and great grandfather, who taught him a lot about life. His grandfather was a "beef skinner" and the hides from the animals were used to make coats and other useful items. Bob was raised in the Catholic faith and attended St. John's Catholic Church, where he was an altar boy and helped serve the nuns communion every morning. He also attended Catholic Grade School before going to public high school at Arsenal Technical High School, near the heart of downtown Indianapolis.

At the age of 17, Bob graduated from Arsenal Technical High School and soon thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He had tried to enlist earlier but he was not of legal age yet. After Bob completed boot camp in Florida, he shipped out from Evansville, Indiana, where an LST (a type of military boat which was used to deploy troops from the water to the beach) transported him down river into the gulf and eventually through the Panama Canal. After training, Bob drove the landing craft for a time before becoming a cook on a naval ship.

After his honorable discharge, Bob returned to Indy and began to pursue a career as a plumber, a trade he had learned in high school with encouragement from his father. Bob soon became a member of the #440 Plumbers & Steam Fitters Union, a membership he loyally and proudly held for 58 years. While waiting for a job call from the union, Bob made ends meet by playing semi pro football for $10 a game. After serving his apprenticeship, Bob went to work for W.L. Evans for 23 years as a plumber and superintendent on several large projects, including the infamous Pyramids on the north side of Indianapolis. Then, in 1974, Bob began his own company called R.V. Hallam Plumbing Company, Inc. Eventually, Bob's son, Paul, would also join the business and in fact, runs the company today, which was always a source of great pride for Bob.

On May 26, 1947, Bob happily married his first wife, Jane Ann Parsley, in the Rectory of his church, because Jane was not Catholic, though later converted in the late 1980s. He was 21 and she was 18 and they were so much in love. They delighted in the birth of their only child, son Paul, who was truly their pride and joy in life. As a family, the Hallams loved to travel and Bob faithfully took a month off every year from his business to go on vacation with his family. They took their very first trip in 1976, when Paul was 13, to the bicentennial celebration of Washington, D.C. The fun part was going in the plumbing van, which Bob had converted into a camper complete with bunk beds. Through the years, their adventures took them all over the United States, including to Alaska during the time when the Alaskan-Canadian Highway was being built, and on a 3-week tour of Europe. They never made it to Florida, though, because Bob was there for basic training and just didn't like it. Both Bob and Paul were big Cincinnati Reds fans and one year while vacationing in San Francisco, they saw the big hitting Pete Rose and even got his autograph.

Bob lost his beloved wife Jane in 1997, after 50 wonderful years of marriage. Strangely, though, a good friend of theirs, Mary Louise Hill, lived next door to them with her daughter and son-in-law, and Jane had mentioned to Bob before dieing that he should take care of Mary after she was gone. And, in fact, Bob and Mary were later married on January 9, 1999. Because they married so late in life, the couple decided to celebrate their anniversary every month on the 9th, just in case they didn't make their first real anniversary together.

Bob was a devout Catholic all of his life. He was a charter member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church when they first met in the old Carmel theatre with Father McDonald. Then, when the Bishop said the dividing line between the two churches in Carmel was 116th Street, Bob had to change churches and became a charter member of the newly built St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Although he was very disappointed about the switch, Bob let his faith guide his decision and listen to the Bishop. Bob's strong faith was a hallmark of his life.

Besides being a devoted father, husband and parishioner, Bob also valued his community and was active in several civic organizations. In 2002, he received his 55-year pin in the #440 Plumbers & Steam Fitters Union and was a proctor for the State of Indiana Plumbing Licensing Board. Bob was on the Board of Directors of the Mechanical Skills Plumbing School as well as the PHCC (Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association) back in the 1980s. He also served as president for one year at the PHCC. In addition, Bob served as past president of the Carmel-Clay Kiwanis Club and was currently sitting on their Board of Directors. A staunch Democrat, Bob worked the polls for many years in his community and was actively involved with the Democratic Party of Hamilton County.

Bob was a hardworking and generous man who lived his life dedicated to his family and his church. Paul admiringly said of his father, "he was the hardest working man he ever met." Whether he was working, raising his son or practicing his faith, Bob put his heart into all that he did. Through his commitment to his family, Bob redefines the concept of unconditional love, a gift none of his family will ever forget.

Robert V. Hallam, 79 of Carmel, Indiana, died on Thursday, November 10, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Mary Louise Hallam; son, Paul Hallam; and step children, Jay K. Hill and Jacque K. Hill. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Ann (Parsley) Hallam in 1997. Family and friends will gather on Monday, November 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Smith Carmel Chapel, 900 N. Rangeline Road. A vigil service will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 15, at 10:30 a.m. with visitation from 9:30 am in the church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a personal memory, sign the register book or make a memorial contribution in lieu of flowers to either the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Family Center or Little Sisters of the Poor.