This Is Brown County

Jack Slaybaugh, former Chief Deputy for the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, died Monday, July 12, at his Brown County home. He was 78.

Mr. Slaybaugh was born February 1, 1932, in Akron, Indiana, to Lewis and Margaret (Smoker) Slaybaugh.

He worked in the family business, Slaybaugh Trucking, as a truck driver before becoming an Indiana State Police officer, a position he held until retiring in 1973.

Mr. Slaybaugh worked in sales until returning to law enforcement as Chief Deputy for the Brown County Sheriff’s Department. He was currently employed as a salesman for Central Sales and Communications.

He was president of SCCAP in Bloomington and his memberships included Lynnhurst Masonic Lodge and Cottonwood Church, where he served on the board for many years.

He was honored by the state of Indiana as a Sagamore of the Wabash and by the state of Kentucky as a Kentucky Colonel.

Mr. Slaybaugh was an avid history buff, reader, gardener, hunter, hiker and backpacker who would have loved to have finished hiking the Appalachian Trail. He was very patriotic, loved to travel and went in search of adventure, no matter where he traveled.

Twice he went to Cuba to help distribute school supplies and was planning a trip to Munich, Germany, to trace his ancestry.

His face was immortalized in a series of greeting cards by world-renowned artist Mike Scovel.

Survivors include his wife, Georgeanna (Lewis) Slaybaugh of Morgantown; three children, Kelly Buddrige (Keith) of Morgantown, Kris Foreman (Tom) of Franklin and Kevin Slaybaugh (Kathy) of Trafalgar; grandchildren Elise, Corey (Sharon), Nikki, Rob (Cynthia), Jennifer, Michael and Katy; great grandchildren Sammi, Kaily, Jackson, Tommy and Joey; one sister, Julia Hoover (Homer) of North Manchester; and one sister-in-law, Beth Slaybaugh of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Richard Slaybaugh.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 16, 2010, at Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home with the Reverend Darrel Miller officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, and a Masonic service will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, also at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cottonwood Church, 2523 Cottonwood Road, Morgantown, Indiana, 46160, or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.bondmitchellfuneralhome.com.