Raymond “Ray” Orlo Fatig, 70, of Zionsville, Indiana, died in Lebanon, Indiana due to multiple health issues on March 24, 2025.
He was born in El Paso, Texas on August 15, 1954, to Raymond “Ray” Orlo Fatig, Jr. and Beverly “Bev” Grace (Springer) Fatig, and spent the majority of his youth in central Ohio. Ray graduated from Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, before earning a BS in Microbiology at The Ohio State University in 1976, going to work as a research scientist at Dow Chemical in 1981 in Midland, Michigan. He transferred to help establish the new Eli Lily merger corporation, Dow Elanco, in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1992 where Ray and family settled in Zionsville, Indiana. Ray later went on to work in the agronomy and pharmacy departments at Purdue University (2003-2014) and the start-up, Aseda Sciences, in the Purdue Research Park (2014-2024) having retired this past December. Ray is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Jody Ann (Reppart) Fatig, his twin sisters Beverly Michele Koenig (Tim) and Patrice Rachelle Fatig, his son Brent Christopher (Brittan), and grandsons Garrett Edward, Holden Joseph and Warner Davis.
Ray was preceded in death by his sister Megan Lynn Fatig, his stepson Mark Benjamin Taylor and his parents.
Ray was an avid reader (a fan of many genres, but particularly science fiction), artist, animal lover, lifelong learner, gardener, dreamer and amateur theologian. He also enjoyed entertaining his family with silly puns, inside jokes and constant self-deprecation. In more serious times, he played piano, was a champion Judo pupil, apiarist (a beekeeper), a caddie, a paperboy and either attended or served on the staffs for church summer camps. In high school he wrestled, played trumpet and sousaphone in the marching band. He was a decorated Boy Scout having received the God and Country award. Some of his final words focused on the beauty of God’s creation and his sorrow at the lack of time to enjoy it. He had a strong belief in God’s unconditional love for all of humanity and was a vocal advocate for equal rights and social justice.
Special thanks to the faith communities of Karl Road Christian (Columbus, Ohio), United Church of Christ (Midland, Michigan) and Central Christian Church (Lebanon, Indiana).
A memorial service will be held at Central Christian Church, 311 E Main St, Lebanon, Indiana 46052 on Saturday, March 29, 2025, with visitation 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. presided over by Rev. Nathan Kibler. Myers Mortuary and Boone County Crematory have been entrusted with his cremation arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Central Christian Church (https://pushpay.com/g/ccclebanon?fnd=stFGdtLwB8GoHZCQ-1IA5Q&lang=en&src=pcgl), the “If Not Now, When?” campaign benefitting Christian Church in Ohio (https://www.ccinoh.com/donation.aspx) or The Humane Society of Boone County (https://www.hsforbc.org/donate.html) would be greatly appreciated.