Millard Rodney Trout

Millard Rodney Trout, 83, of Coatesville and most recently, Greencastle, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2016.

Rodney was born on Dec. 10, 1932 in Center, Texas, to Millard and Ella Harrison Trout.

Rodney and his family transferred to Indiana in 1937 as his father worked for Magnolia Pipeline Co. (later Mobil). After a few years at the company station in Westfield, they moved to Reno, Ind., to run the station outside of Coatesville.

Rodney graduated from Amo High School, and after working for the pipeline company, decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Rodney served as a petty officer during the Korean War.

Thirty years after leaving the Navy, Rodney was recognized for his real job for the Navy. Soon after he enlisted, he was noted to have tremendous swimming ability, and served his country as a frogman/oil king on the USS Toledo. He was a petty officer by day, and oil king at night. Following a very serious accident that required 14 months in a Naval hospital, he finished his naval stint on the USS Helena.

On Dec. 6, 1956, Rodney married Linda Lou Brown of Coatesville.

Linda was attending Indiana State Teachers College, so Rodney decided to take classes there as well. Following graduation, he began his 37-year teaching career, teaching three years in Washington Township and 34 years for Mill Creek Community Schools.

He achieved his Masters of Teaching degree at DePauw University. No one loved teaching and working with children more than this man, and he has left quite a legacy in the hearts of many students in the Amo, Coatesville and Stilesville communities.

For many years, Rodney was involved in Boy Scouts of America. He, Linda, Mike and Nancy spent the summers at Camp Belzer in Indianapolis, serving as aquatics director, helping to shape the lives of many Eagle Scouts, who to this day remain surrogate sons.

Rodney and Linda traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states, more than 50 countries, touring every continent other than Antarctica. Most of these travels were enjoyed with their lifelong friends, Jim and Carole Knoblett. Until they could no longer travel, Rodney and Linda shared summer "togetherness" vacations with their children and grandchildren.

His philosophy was to "share the wealth" while he could watch his family enjoy it and make memories together. That they did.

Rodney is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Linda; daughter Nancy (Brad) Collins; daughter-in-law Pauline Trout; beloved grandchildren Jacob and Katie Collins and Rachel Graham; sister Kathy (Jim) Graves; sister-in-law Ginny (Larry) Salsman; nieces Sarah Phelps, Becky Roach, Jill Fossett and Stacy Smith; ands nephews Sam Vaughn, Jimmy Vaughn, Duke Brown and Chad Salsman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved son Michael Trout, siblings Patsy Vaughn, Johnny Trout and Carolyn Trout, and nephew Steven Vaughn and Scott Trout.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 5 in Coatesville at the Bousley Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m., with services Friday at 10 a.m.

Contributions may be made to the Hendricks County Foundation in Rodney's memory.