Robert Ervin Hallam

Robert Ervin Hallam

November 25, 1924 – March 19, 2026

Robert Hallam, of Speedway, enjoyed a long and fulfilling life of 101 years. He was born on November 25, 1924 at home on North LaSalle Street in Indianapolis to Leslie Singleton Hallam and Lucile Ervin Hallam. His father was a traffic engineer with Indiana Bell Telephone, and his mother was a violinist in the Jordan Conservatory Orchestra, which later became part of Butler University. Bob graduated from Shortridge High School in 1942 as a violinist in the “A” Orchestra and as a member of the ROTC. He and his mother enjoyed taking violin lessons from Hugh McGibony, the conductor of the Jordan Orchestra.

While attending Shortridge High School, President Roosevelt declared war. Bob was still able to enroll at Butler University majoring in physics and complete his freshman year, but he got a draft notice on June12, 1943 to join the Army. One week later he reported to Fort Benjamin Harrison and thereafter served at various locations stateside including Fort Custer, Fort Devins, Camp Claiborne, Fort Belvoir, and A.P. Hill Military Reservation. At Fort Custer a military newspaper article featured Bob entitled “Nocturnal Activities of 10 GIs Keep Outfit in Hot Water” referring to his role as the water technician responsible for fixing a pump 70 feet below ground. At A.P. Hill his main activities involved landmine destruction research. He was honorably discharged on March 31, 1946 at Camp Atterbury.

With help from the GI bill, Bob returned to Butler majoring in Business Administration. He initially worked at Indiana Bell Telephone in Accounting and 20 years later moved to the Engineering Department’s Cost Division which focused on capital recovery. He retired in 1988 after 41 years of service.

Bob married Jane Uhrhan on January 30, 1954 at the Butler University Chapel, ten years after they had met at a Christian Science Association meeting that his mother and Jane had attended together. Their honeymoon was in Chicago staying at the renowned Drake Hotel. They were both members of Third Church of Christ, Scientist in Indianapolis. Jane was a math professor who taught at Indiana University Extension (later becoming IUPUI) and subsequently at Butler University focusing her research and lectures on topology. In their 19 years of marriage, they visited 48 states and much of Canada. However, on May 15, 1973, Jane passed away.

Jeanne Yarling and her husband Timothy L. Yarling were friends with Bob and Jane from Third Church. After Jeanne became a widow (1969) with two children, Tim and Kim, and

Bob became a widower (1973), Bob and Jeanne got married in his home on Washington Boulevard on August 30, 1974. Bob was a bit anxious about raising a nine and eleven-year-old, but Jeanne assured him that she had never done so either.

Bob had been a dedicated member of Calvin Prather Lodge #717, Free and Accepted Masons, since 1946 and of the Scottish Rite since 1948. He was also a proud Eagle Scout and Sigma Chi member at Butler. With both Jeanne and Bob having been raised in music, they were always happy to attend Pops Concerts at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as to regularly watch productions at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. They loved traveling domestically and internationally together with Door County, WI being one of their favorite getaways.

Bob was known to be cheerful, knowledgeable, reverent, honest, helpful, and generous. He often spoke fondly of his days playing bridge and taking ballroom dance lessons and was excited whenever he saw his grandchildren getting involved in his favorite pastimes. Throughout his life, he remained curious, keeping up with technological developments and even mastering Facebook in his 90s. He was a family-centered person who was always willing to help and who enjoyed keeping up with his grandchildren’s activities. At his 100th birthday celebration, over 100 guests attended including his beloved former exchange student from Sweden, Liselott Johansson.

Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Uhrhan Hallam (1973); his second wife, Jeanne Caldwell Hallam, (2013); his daughter Kimberly Jeanne Scheller (2026); and his brothers Ervin Richard Hallam (2023) and Kenneth Leslie Hallam (2015). He is survived by his son Timothy (Chiharu) Yarling, Robert Scheller, and his grandchildren Alisa and Kayla Yarling.

Bob’s burial date is March 22, 2026 at Mount Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst, IL with arrangements handled by Brust Funeral Home of Lombard, IL and Flanner & Buchanan of Speedway, IN. A Celebration of Life event will be held this spring in Speedway. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist, Indianapolis or a charity of your choice.