Charles Albert Rebber of North Venice FL, formerly of Sarasota FL and Seymour IN. passed away on January 26th, 2021.
It’s difficult to distill someone’s 92+ years of wonderful long life into just a few paragraphs, but here’s a feeble attempt.
He was born September 12, 1928 in Seymour, IN where he lived the largest part of his life. He worked with his dad, Albert Rebber, at the J-C grocery store after high school and managed their store in Mitchell, IN for a time. He went to work for Friendly Sales, a new Oldsmobile car dealership in 1947. He served his country with the army in the Korean War from 1950-1952. After returning from war he went to work again for the Oldsmobile dealer until they closed. He purchased their glass equipment and inventory and started his own business, Seymour Glass, in 1956. He added upholstery that same year and changed the name to Seymour Glass and Auto Trim. In 1960 he built a new location on South Broadway and added auto parts then changed the name again to Seymour Glass and Auto Parts. In 1970 he changed the name again to Hoosier Parts Warehouse. He began expansion and purchased Columbus Auto Supply in 1975. In 1979 he combined Seymour Glass and Hoosier parts in the building where his father worked for many years at 100 Ewing Street. He expanded his service area even further eventually having stores in Seymour, Columbus, Bedford, Madison, North Vernon, Osgood and Scottsburg.
He “retired” (but auto parts were always in his DNA) and moved to Sarasota FL in 1996 and eventually to Venice FL.
The business officially closed in 2016 after 60 years serving his loyal customers in Southern Indiana.
He was an amateur pilot, loved to play golf (even though like most of us he wasn’t very good , I think he just enjoyed it most for getting to be with people while he played), was active for many years in Redeemer Lutheran Church (Seymour) and Lakeside Lutheran Church (Venice). He was on the Board that started Lutheran Lake in southern Indiana where he and his brother-in-law Howard Luker purchased a lot together. He had many fun times at the “Lake” with family, relatives and friends. He served for over 30 years on the Board of Jackson County Bank in Seymour.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 69 years, Alice M. Rebber who passed just a short time before him on November 16, 2020. Charley is survived by his two sons, Tom Rebber of North Venice FL and Joe Rebber of Fishers IN. He also leaves behind 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Redeemer Lutheran Church at 11am with visitation prior to service after 10am. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Seymour, IN. Memorials may be written to Redeemer Lutheran Church. Arrangements provided by Voss & Sons Funeral Service in Seymour.