Gary Stephen Kitchen

Retired Air Force Captain Gary Stephen Kitchen (often referred to as Steve) age 77 passed away peacefully on March 26, 2021.  His survivors are his sister, Karen Dorothy Kitchen Alger, and his niece, Deborah May Marie Alger (Deb) He was preceded in death by his parents Virginia Obenland Kitchen and James Taylor Kitchen III

After graduation from Thomas Carr Howe High School, Gary entered the military after ROTC. During the 1968 Vietnam Tet Offensive, he was in the second group of non-Marines to receive the Presidential Unit Citation, in person by Lyndon B. Johnson for heroic service.  He was a graduate of Butler University.

After being grounded due to potential health conditions from navigating aircraft, he was stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, TX for many years and served as a photographer and mental health specialist.  He had also been stationed at Okinawa, Japan, Germany, and Fargo, North Dakota.  He retired and moved back to Indianapolis, IN to the Irvington area to help his immediate family (parents, sister and niece)

Later in life Gary was active as an anime room coordinator for Gencon (an anime convention that met in downtown Indianapolis).  He also was active in the Circle of Janice (a local science fiction and fantasy club) With the Circle of Janus, he also participated in the Inconjuntion Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention.    Also, he volunteered his time and home space for fellow anime fans by creating an anime club.  He frequently travelled to sci-fi/fantasy conventions around the world.

Gary was an active member of the Irvington Presbyterian Church.  He also was an active member of Club East and encouraged other members.  He remained sober for over 31 years.

Gary was very enthusiastic about helping others and staying active.  Even after retirement, he was often sociable with his neighbors and friends and took pride in picking up trash in the neighborhood because he believed that pride in the neighborhood would keep the crime rates down.

He was an avid collector and reader of comics, Japanese manga, anime, science fiction videos, and loved Star Trek and watched practically all anime directed by Miazaki.  He also had a fascination with antiques and artwork.  On his computer he collected thumbnail images of Hiroshige, the Japanese artist of rain.

He also loved CNN CSPAN economic channel which he would turn on religiously every morning to study the stock market.  He also loved plants.

Gary was a direct, prudent, and extraverted person.  He truly enjoyed the company of other people and could always engage in conversation and useful advice.  He had many friends that valued him, and he valued them as well.   Flowers or a charitable donation to Circle of Janus or Club East are both acceptable.

Below is the link to watch the funeral service live.
Gary Kitchen Funeral Service