Obituary
Gary Duane Lightfoot, age 84, of Greenwood, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Born in Eureka, Illinois, Gary was the son of Paul Oden Lightfoot and Mildred Edith (Ware) Lightfoot. He was an Eagle Scout and worked at the Lightfoot Standard Oil Station alongside his grandfather, father, and brother. A 1958 graduate of Eureka High School, Gary helped establish the Boolean Algebra Club.
In 1962, Gary began his career at Eli Lilly and Company while attending Butler University at night, earning his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1965. He then served as a Captain in the United States Army from 1965 to 1971, working in military hospitals in San Antonio, Texas, and Germany.
Returning to Eli Lilly in 1971, Gary dedicated another 22 years to delivering life-saving medicines. His roles included Retail Salesperson, Hospital Salesperson, Marketing Associate, Manager of New Products, Sales Manager at Dista Products Company, Manager of Medical Information, Manager of Hospital Products at Lilly International in London, Manager of Clinical Research, and Manager of CRC and CR Outsourcing.
He then went on to serve as the VP of Market Development at PPD - Pharmaceutical Product Development in Austin, Texas, and finally President and CEO of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).
Gary fondly remembered his time at Lilly as some of the best years of his life. Even decades after retiring, he proudly wore his red Team Lilly t-shirt and spoke passionately about the medicines he helped develop.
An avid traveler and outdoors enthusiast, Gary enjoyed photography, golfing, long motorcycle trips, and spending days on his recumbent trike around Brevard, North Carolina.
Gary is preceded in death by his father, Paul Oden Lightfoot; his mother, Mildred Edith (Ware) Lightfoot; and his brother, Paul Thomas Lightfoot. He is survived by his son, Gregory Stewart Lightfoot; his daughter, Christine Elizabeth (Lightfoot) Klepetko; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.