James Robert "Bob" Wortman

James Robert “Bob” Wortman, 94, a lifelong Morristown resident, passed away on Monday, February 16, 2026, at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield.

He was born September 29, 1931, in Blue River Township of Hancock County, the son of Lyall and Velma (Davis) Wortman. On September 22, 1957, Bob married Sue Ann Myer, and she preceded him in death on June 24, 2015. They shared 58 years together.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Lisa (Stephen) Bridges of Morristown; sister, Janet Wortman of Morristown; brother , William (Faye) Wortman of Evansville; aunt Helen Kilby of Indianapolis; daughter-in-law, Debra Wortman of Morristown; sister-in-law, Maria Wortman of Maryland; grandchildren Michele (Chad) Hibst, Courtney Vogel, Jason Wortman, Ashley (Andrew) Longwell, Kyle (Louise) Andis, Matthew (Whitney) Wortman, and Jordan Andis; great-grandchildren, Blake, Colin, Lilly, Landon, Keegan, Chloe, Aubrey, Emmalyn, Aili, Isom, and Levi; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyall and Velma (Davis) Wortman; wife, Sue Ann (Myer) Wortman; sons, Jay Lee and Jeffrey Lyall Wortman; and brother, Donald Wortman.

Bob was a lifelong member of Morristown Methodist Church.

In 1949, Bob graduated from Morristown High School. Following high school, Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1951 to 1959 during the Korean Conflict. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Bob returned home to run the family business, Home Appliance Company, due to his father’s terminal illness. Bob and Sue married and began their lifelong partnership in many business endeavors. Home Appliance, established in 1945, became J R Wortman Co when they expanded to include plumbing, heating, and electrical contracting. Bob built many of the homes in the White-Wortman housing addition and the Three Oaks Estates apartment complex, along with several of the local industries that came to town due to the availability of natural gas that Bob brought to Morristown. Bob owned and operated Fountaintown Gas Company which serves Decatur, Hancock, Henry, Rush, and Shelby counties and South Eastern Indiana Natural Gas Company serving Dearborn and Ripley counties.

Bob and Sue were very community minded and looked for new, innovative ways to contribute to their hometown of Morristown and the surrounding communities in Shelby and Hancock counties. Bob believed in endowments and established several funds at both the Hancock County Community Foundation and the Blue River Community Foundation in Shelby County.

Bob has been honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award. He was a past commander of the American Legion, a member of the Marine Corps League, past president and a Deputy District Governor of the Lions Club, and past president of the Morristown Alumni Association and PTA.

He served as a member of the board for Shelby County Senior Services, Shelby County Library Foundation, Shelby County Players, Nameless Creek Youth Camp, Hancock Health Foundation, and Ohio Valley Gas Corporation. He was instrumental in bringing Rock Steady Boxing to Shelby and Hancock counties and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Shelby County. He also played a role in launching the Blue River Youth Choir and Love INC in Shelby County.

Bob’s love of Sue Ann inspired both the Hancock Health’s Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center and the Major Health Partners’ Sue Ann Wortman Nephrology Center through the establishment of endowments at the respective hospital foundations.

He established the Wortman Family Foundation to support health and education needs in Shelby and Hancock counties.

Bob was a 66-year Mason. He was a member of the Morristown Lodge #193, where he served as its Worshipful Master. He was also a member of Sugar Creek Lodge #279 and New Palestine Lodge #404. He was awarded the Caleb B. Smith Medal in 2022, which is the highest award given by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Bob was very active in other Masonic bodies. He was a member of Greenfield York Rite bodies and was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis. He was crowned a 33rd degree in Indianapolis in 2015. Bob was the current Vice President of the Valley of Indianapolis 33rd degree Association. The Auditorium within the Scottish Rite Cathedral is named the J. Robert Wortman Auditorium. In addition, Bob was a member of Murat Shrine and the Hancock County Shrine Club.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 pm, Friday, February 20, 2026 at the Morristown Methodist Church, 221 South Washington Street in Morristown, Indiana. Masonic services will be at 7 pm on Friday.

Funeral Services will be at 11:30 am, Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the church, with Pastors Jeri Barrett Thomas and Kory Chesser officiating. Interment will be in Asbury Cemetery in Morristown.

Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St., in Morristown.

Memorial contributions may be made by donation to the Wortman Family Foundation Fund at Blue River Community Foundation that supports nonprofits in Hancock and Shelby counties, 54 W. Broadway St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176.

Online condolences may be shared with Bob’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.