Vincent P. Truax

Vincent “Vince” P. Truax, 88, of Carmel, Indiana, passed away on August 25, 2026.

Vince was born June 25, 1938, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Vincent P. Truax and Margaret Welsh Truax. He grew up in Wheeling and later earned degrees from St. Vincent College, The Ohio State University and Creighton University.

In 1960, Vince married Mary Ann Brennan of Martins Ferry, Ohio. Over 66 years of marriage, they built a life together that included family, friendship, travel, moves, careers, grandchildren and a great many shared experiences.

Vince spent more than three decades with Eli Lilly & Company, where he held a number of leadership positions and ultimately served as Vice President of Human Resources for DowElanco before retiring in 1995. His career took the family to different parts of the country and to London, but he was never someone who seemed to need much attention for what he accomplished. He worked hard, prepared carefully, paid attention to details and moved on to whatever needed to be done next.

Although his career took him many places, Vince’s life was never defined by work alone. He loved fly-fishing, upland game hunting, golf and traveling with Mary Ann and close friends. Many of these interests brought friendships that lasted for decades. Family history also fascinated him, and at one point he traced the Truax genealogy back to the late 1500s.

After retirement, Vince and Mary Ann spent much of their time at their lake house in Columbus, Indiana, a place that became especially important to the family. For the grandchildren, Grandpa was often found baiting hooks that were almost certainly going to end up stuck in the rocks beneath the dock, patching yet another hole in the big trampoline on the lake, or trying to convince everyone to pick up the endless sticks and tree debris in the yard. Those ordinary days at the lake became some of the family’s most lasting memories.

One of Vince’s favorite sayings was, “No good deed goes unpunished.” He seemed to understand that doing the right thing did not always make life easier and could sometimes come with consequences of its own. It never stopped him from doing it anyway.

Vince was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Emma Trautwein Truax; his infant daughter, Elizabeth Marie Truax; his brother, Terence James Truax; and his sister-in-law, Janet Truax.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Ann; his children, Vincent P. Truax III (Kristy) and Julie Anne Saxe (James); five grandchildren, Sean Dalby Truax, Kari Brennan Minnich, Kelly Johnson Truax, Justin David Saxe and Sara Brennan Eppler; his brother, Dennis Ryan Truax (Nora); and many nieces and nephews.

A public Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, September 3rd, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 10655 Haverstick Road, Carmel, Indiana. Following the Mass, there will be a ceremonial drive-off from the church. Cremation will follow, and Vince’s remains will later be placed at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Little Sisters of the Poor in Indianapolis. https://littlesistersofthepoorindianapolis.org/