Trine mourns loss of longtime supporter Chuck Sheets
January 09, 2023
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From left, Trine President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., State Rep. Dennis Zent, Chuck
Sheets and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb during the presentation of the Sagamore of the
Wabash to Chuck Sheets on Trine's campus in 2016. (File photo by Dean Orewiler)
Trine University is mourning the death of longtime friend and supporter Chuck Sheets,
who passed away Sunday, Jan. 8, at age 94.
Mr. Sheets established the Harcourt & Elsta Sheets Scholarship at Trine University
in memory of his parents and supported the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts, the
Humanities Institute and Trine’s general scholarship fund. He also responded to unique
opportunities such as contributing top soil for capital projects.
“Chuck is a pillar of Angola and Steuben County, in addition to the generous support
he has provided for Trine University,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president.
“His character, caring and wise counsel will be greatly missed by many in this community.”
Mr. Sheets had his hand in many of the industrial and cultural developments in Steuben
County dating to the 1950s-1960s when he returned to Steuben County following his
education at Indiana University.
Among many things, he developed Country Fair Shopping Center and Angola Industrial
Park, which is home to many industrial residents along Wohlert Drive.
He was a founding board member of the Steuben County Community Foundation and was
instrumental in helping found the YMCA of Steuben County.
Known as a generous philanthropist, Mr. Sheets and his wife, Ruth Ann, who died in
2020, established the Harcourt & Elsta Sheets Scholarship at Trine University and
supported the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts, the Humanities Institute and Trine’s
general scholarship fund.
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