Richard E. Aikman

Richard E. Aikman, 92, of Indianapolis, passed away Sunday, November 13, 2011. He was born June 23, 1919 in Washington, IN to the late Robert and Emma Foster Aikman. Richard met and fell in love with Marilyn when they were undergraduates at Indiana University. They were married October 23, 1941 and were able to recently celebrate their seventieth anniversary. Richard graduated with honors from the Indiana University School of Business where he was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity as well as several other honorary and business fraternities. Like so many of his generation life was interrupted by World War II. Richard proudly served as a company commander in the China Burma India Theatre under the command of General 'Vinegar Joe' Stillwell. He often quipped that the government had sent him on an all expenses paid trip around the world. He left from Fort Benning, Georgia in January, 1943, went by train to the west coast and then took a commandeered ocean liner to Calcutta, India. He spent more than two years in the China Burma Theatre engaged in transporting equipment and supplies to the Chinese by way of the Burma Road. His return trip was on a transport ship that took him through the Suez Canal and across the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, arriving back on the east coast in the summer of 1945. When he returned home to see his child for the first time she was then two and one half years old. Richard was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946 having attained the rank of major. He remained active in veterans' affairs, later serving as Commander of a local VFW Post in Indianapolis. Richard joined the Internal Revenue Service in 1946 where he would eventually become head of the Appellate Division for the Indianapolis Region. During his time at the IRS, while helping to raise four children, he also attended the Indiana University School of Law at night. He graduated from the law school in 1955 and three years later joined the Indianapolis law firm of Baker and Daniels where he practiced law in the areas of taxation and estate planning for more than three decades. Richard was a past chairman of the Taxation Section of the Indiana Bar Association and held various positions in the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association. He was a member of the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis and was a frequent panelist and speaker at institutes on federal and state tax issues. He was also a former president of the Indianapolis chapter of the Federal Bar Association and of the Indiana University School of Law Alumni Association. Richard was a former member of the Board of Directors of Woodland Country Club and was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and the Scottish Rite as well as a member and supporter of various civic and charitable organizations in the Indianapolis area. Despite contending with significant physical ailments for the last two decades Richard always greeted family and friends with a smile and a warm reception. And despite those problems he remained an avid golfer well into his eighties and enjoyed playing bridge into his nineties. Funeral services will be private. Richard is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn Rader Aikman; children, Karen Aikman Dennison (Steve) of Westfield, IN, Richard Aikman, Jr. (Judy) of Indianapolis, IN, Lynn Aikman Sobering (Guy) of New York City, NY, and J. Randall Aikman (Judy) of Fishers, IN; grandchildren: Scott (Jennifer) Dennison, Jennifer (Mark) Henninger, Allen (Sara) Dennison, Jonathan (Kate) Aikman, Andrea (Ryan) Conrad, Krista (Darin) York, Jerod Aikman, Jason Aikman, Abigail Aikman; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Larry Aikman. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanette Edwards. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Second Presbyterian Church. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan