Thomas W. Ullrich

Thomas W. Ullrich, DDS, was born November 16, 1930 in Aurora, Indiana, the eldest child of Wilfrid J. and Eleanor(Klimek) Ullrich. After attending elementary school in Aurora and St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, he went to Purdue University. There he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity and graduated with a BS degree in Pharmacy. He was commissioned in the Army Medical Service Corps, and after becoming medical detachment commander in a tank battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division, was relieved from active duty in 1953. He was later transferred to the Army Dental Corps Reserve, from which he was separated as a Lieutenant Colonel. Tom married Jane Olga Bollinger, whom he had met on a blind date at Purdue, on December 26, 1951. He worked as a pharmacist in Lumberton, NC, in Aurora, IN and in Hollywood, FL, before deciding to become a dentist. Florida, having no dental schools at the time, he and his young family moved to Indianapolis where he attended Indiana University School of Dentistry. He worked as a pharmacist to support his family and obtained his DDS in 1962. Dr. Ullrich worked part time in private practice in Indianapolis and also as staff dentist and pharmacy consultant for Indiana Departments of Correction and Mental Health. He eventually became dental director at Indiana Reformatory. Dr. Ullrich lost his fine motor skills in a stroke suffered December 1992, forcing his retirement from practicing dentistry. Dr. Ullrich was a charter member of the Lawrence Sertoma Club, and served a few years as secretary. He was a member of Fine Arts Philatelists, writing a series of articles on Russian paintings on stamps for their national journal and serving as national secretary. He was an active member of the Indiana Public Health Dentists Organization, serving a term as president. Dr. Ullrich is survived by his wife Jane(Bollinger) Ullrich, six children: Karen(Robert) Martinez, Steve Ullrich, Jean Ullrich, Jack(Joyce Stout) Ullrich, Marie(Greg) Foresman, and Tina Aitken; eight grandchildren, Summer, Jackson, and Sarah Ullrich, Nick Hawkins, Bobby and Tommy Martinez, Kyle and Jack Foresman, and two great grandchildren, John Michael and Torrence. Also surviving is his sister, Irene Wright, and three brothers: Daniel W. (Nancy) Ullrich, James R. (Flo) Ullrich, and Richard M. (Suzanne) Ullrich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 7243 E. 10th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Friends may visit with the family also on Saturday at the church from 12:00 Noon until time of Mass at 1:00 PM. Cremation to follow services. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's memory may be made to the charity of choice. 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