WILDMAN, Bobby D - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Bobby D. Wildman, 33, a Waynetown, Ind., resident formerly of Danville, drowned shortly before midnight Saturday in High Pond south of the concession stand in Kickapoo Park. Witnesses said Wildman, who couldn’t swim, jumped or fell off the end of a boat dock into 12-15 feet of water. Wildman, Joseph Yakulis, 404 N. Gilbert, Robert Hill, 401 N. Jackson, and Marjorie Elliott, Indianapolis, Wildman’s sister-in-law, were fishing when the mishap occurred, according to sheriff’s deputies, state police and Coroner Ralph Sargent. Yakulis said he was swimming when he saw Wildman run along the deck toward the water. The sister-in-law ran for help to some nearby campers while Hill jumped in to try and save Wildman. Yakulis and Hill told the investigators they couldn’t find Wildman in the dark water. Fay Juvinall, park ranger, was notified by one family of campers while a second ran to the pond. A boat manned by Juvinall and Harold Miles, county conservation officer, started dragging and soon found the body near the end of the boat dock. Also assisting in the recovery operations were George Clawson, Kent Slusher and Stanley Jones. Juvinall noted that swimming in all park ponds is barred at all times. An investigation, Sargent said, is being made. An inquest will he held, he said. Bobby Dean Wildman was born May 8, 1935, in Danville. He had lived in Waynetown three years, moving there from Danville. He was married July 11, 1955, in Danville, to Dorothy Wolfe, who survives. Also surviving is a brother, Michael Allen McQuire of South Bend, Ind. He was preceded in death by his parents. He was a landscaper. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Johnson Funeral Home in Danville. The Rev. Terry Foland will officiate. Burial will be in the Fairfield Cemetery at Newman. Friends will be received at the funeral home 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today. – jlr