Larry Brown Robbins

Larry Brown Robbins, 79, of Indianapolis, IN passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2025.

Larry was born December 21, 1945, in Indianapolis, the son of Enos “Brown” Robbins and Lauretta Ross Robbins. He graduated from Pike High School in 1964, president of his senior class. He then went on to Purdue University and was a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, graduating with a degree in business.

In 1965, Larry married Kathy Oliverio Robbins, and had two daughters, Kimberley and Kristy. In 1985, he married Cynthia Walker Robbins, and fathered his “second litter” (his favorite phrase), Bryan, Wesley and Emily. Larry felt great joy watching his family grow to include grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He coached sports teams, read to his young children every night, and instilled in us his love of nature through our annual trips to Canada. Each child loved the opportunity to go fishing with Dad on a quiet, misty Canadian morning. Conversations with him were enough to look forward to even if the fish weren’t biting. The tradition of one-on-one time with him on the water continued for his grandchildren as well.

After the early years of working at Herff Jones and Aero Drapery, Larry started his own window treatment business, Indy Decor, in 1985. Many of his customers became lifelong friends, and he enjoyed watching their families grow over the decades. A “one man show” for most of those years, he took great pride in his straightforward communication, honest pricing, and dependability. He loved his career enough that he never retired.

Once the nest was empty, Larry discovered the final great love of his life, pickleball. Playing pickleball opened up his world to include great new friends and was an outlet for his passion for sports and teaching. Anyone who walked into the Fishers YMCA and interested in learning the sport would be directed to Larry. He loved competing in tournaments as much as he loved playing with a newbie. Even off the court, the pickleball friendships have been so dear to both Cindy and Larry.

Larry was truly living his best life. After a day that included a morning of playing pickleball, an appointment that turned into reminiscing with an old customer, and a phone call with one of his kids, he would often say to Cindy, “it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Larry’s survivors include the love of his life, Cindy; his five children, Kimberley (Steve), Kristy, Bryan, Wesley, and Emily (Patrick); grandchildren, Meghan (Ryan), Sam, Lucy, and Bella; great-grandchild Bradyn; his sister Judy Calhoun; and his beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ross.

Visitation (10am-12 pm) and memorial service (12pm) are Saturday, October 4, 2025, at North United Methodist Church (3808 N Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46208). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Pickleball Cares (www.pickleballcares.org) and Riley Children’s Hospital (www.rileychildrens.org).