Dr. Charles Willis Gish, age 98, passed away peacefully with family by his side on January 24, 2022. He was born June 26, 1923 to the late Floyd and Thelma (Snider) Gish in Carroll County, on the family farm in Camden, Indiana. He graduated from Camden High School in April, 1941. He attended Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame before receiving his DDS degree with Honors (1949) and a MSD (1960) from Indiana University.
Charles married Treva Metsger, also of Carroll County, on June 23, 1949 in the Chapel of the Wilshire Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, California as guests of the “Bride and Groom” radio show.
Charles was drafted into U.S. Navy February 1943 and served 3 years active duty in the Navy during WW II. He also served two years of Active duty with U.S. Armed Forces (Korean War) May 1952 – 1954.
Dr. Gish is a retired dentist from Brookston, Indiana, known for his work in public health practice, academia, and clinical dental research.
He was a Regional Dental Consultant for Region IX of the U.S. Public Health Service from 1952 to 1954. His clinical research brought him much acclaim, due to his participation in the early Crest studies, in which he was instrumental in the research and development of a preventive prophylaxis paste that was used by dental practitioners for years. Gish and a colleague later developed this product into a self-applied fluoride regimen, generally referred to as “brush ins” in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Starting in 1962, Dr. Gish was the State Dental Director for Indiana for 23 years. He also served on the faculty of Indiana University School of Dentistry for over thirty years, beginning in 1954. He co-chaired the department of community dentistry from 1969 to 1986 and was a full professor from 1977 to 1987. Dr. Gish was a strong advocate to fluoridate community water supplies in Indiana. Under his directions, Indiana became legendary for its robust programs of fluoride and by the mid-1980’s fluoridated water was used by 93 percent of all Indiana residents on public water supplies. In addition, for rural communities where community water fluoridation was not possible, he implemented numerous school-water fluoridation units. At one time, he had more schools that were fluoridated than any other state in the country. He also directed a mobile dental clinic that traveled around the state to provide exams and treatment for school-aged children.
In the dental community, Dr. Gish was widely published in local, state, and national professional journals.
He was president of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and received its Outstanding Achievement Award. Dr. Gish was also president of the American Association of Public Health Dentists (now the American Association of Public Health Dentistry) and received their Distinguished Service Award. His many awards include The Tony and Mary Hulman Health Award for achievements in preventive medicine given by Indiana Public Health Foundation; Indiana Dental Association Maynard K. Hine Award in recognition of distinguished contributions to the Public and the Dental Profession thru commitment to excellence in Dental Research in Indiana and Nationally; John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health; and the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Governor Orr of Indiana.
His creativity and ingenuity extended outside of the dental field into his free time and numerous projects on his farm which Awarded him an Outstanding Accomplishment in Resource Conservation Award and Soil and Water Conservation Award.
Dr. Gish, also an avid collector of Indian artifacts, was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the advancement of amateur Archaeology from the Indiana Archeological Society and was recently presented with the Award of Excellence in Camden, Indiana, by the Indiana Archeological Society. He also recently was presented with a 75 year membership award from the Mt. Zion Masonic Lodge No#211. Charles was also a longtime member of the Brookston American Legion Post No#251. He always enjoyed spending time with his family on their hobby farm where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and mushroom hunting. Dr. Gish was also a proud member of the Federated Church of Brookston. He served on numerous boards and committees. He was also a deacon for the Church.
He is survived by daughters, Tracey Simmerman (Steve) of Battle Ground, and Gail Sembach (Jim) of Indianapolis, also Grandsons Jared Simmerman, and Craig Simmerman (Elissa) of Brookston, and Granddaughter Jessica Siebert (Jeremy) of Fishers, 4 great grandchildren, Jentry and Clay Simmerman, and Janner and Jace Siebert.
He is preceded in death by his wife Treva, a son Bradley Gish, brothers Dr. Howard M. Gish and Floyd Junior (Jack) Gish and an infant sister Helen Louise.
Friends may call from 11a.m. until the time of funeral service at 1 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2022 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston; Rev. David Doles and Rev. Dr. Lelan D. McReynolds to officiate. Interment to follow in Camden Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Community Foundation of White County with a memo of Charles W. & Treva Gish Health Scholarship Fund and may be mailed to the foundation at PO Box 1154, Monticello, IN 47960.
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