Kendra Gayle Meetz

Kendra Gayle Meetz was born on December 18, 1948, to Harriet and Stanley Meetz in Palo Alto, California. She died on August 24, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her brother and her two closest friends, Christine Goellner and Brenda Wills, by her side. She was the second of four children. Kendra is survived by her brother Dr. Richard E. Meetz (wife Lois) of Bloomington, Indiana and her sisters Janel Meetz of Denver, Colorado and Maureen Howell (husband Ken) of Huntington, Alabama, as well as her nephew Jason Howell (wife Heather) and children.

Kendra graduated from Indianapolis Northwest High School as Salutatorian of the class of 1967. She enrolled at Purdue University and graduated in 1971 with a BS in Mathematics. While at Purdue University, Kendra was part of the first group of women to move into Harrison Hall her sophomore year creating the first coed dorm.

It was at Purdue that Kendra met a group of lifelong friends that she continued to enjoy for over 50 years. Each year she helped organize a Purdue football gathering of the “group” from Harrison Hall. Win or lose at the football game, their get-togethers continued throughout the years.

Upon graduation Kendra taught Junior High mathematics at Perry Meridian in Indianapolis. Following her teaching career, she began working at IU Hospitals as a data analyst. Here she excelled with an innate ability to bridge the tech and data communication divide. She was able to work between the two groups to problem-solve and smoothly coordinate each area. Kendra retired as a Senior Decision Support Analyst for IU Hospitals in October 2014.

Kendra found great enjoyment in books, music, The Big Bang Theory and lifelong friendships. She had season tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony and Butler University’s Broadway Musical Series. She had the wit and ability to find absurdity in the everyday and bring her unique perspective to life.

Kendra held a very special place in the hearts of all who knew her. This was especially true for goddaughter Elizabeth Goellner McLean (husband Chris) and Bobby Goellner (wife Jessica). She was an adopted grandmother for Meg and Zach McLean and James and Andrew Goellner.

A celebration of life for Kendra will take place at a later date.