Bret Wayne Etheridge

Bret Wayne Etheridge, beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away Saturday, May 16th, 2026, at the age of 65. He was born on December 21, 1960, to Glen and Anita (Dunlap) Etheridge in Illinois. His parents and older brother, Butch, relocated to Gary, Indiana, shortly thereafter. There, they welcome sister Stacee. Growing up, he lived only a few houses from his cousins, and they spent almost every day together, forging a lifelong bond that only children can form. Those early years shaped the loving, social, and deeply connected man he would become.

Bret graduated from Calumet High School in 1979. He attended Indiana University in Terre Haute, IN, and Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, IN. Just shy of graduating with an engineering degree, Bret chose to pursue a career as an Air Traffic Controller. After graduating from the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, he returned home to marry the love of his life, Beth Breeden, whom he adored. Together, they moved to Indianapolis and built a life together. They opened their home to everyone with warmth and generosity. No one left without feeling welcomed, loved, and cared for.

Bret dedicated 25 years to working at the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center, where he felt a strong sense of pride and responsibility it carried. There he built numerous friendships and continued to maintain these relationships even after retiring in 2010.

Outside of work, he embraced every moment life had to offer. He lived life fully, joyfully, and with an open heart. He loved golfing, throwing darts, playing any kind of game, watching game shows, and traveling. No matter where he went, he had a remarkable ability to make friends instantly. People were naturally drawn to his warmth, humor, and fun-loving spirit.

Bret loved life and lived every minute of it. His kindness, generosity, laughter, quick wit, and large-than-life spirit will be profoundly missed but forever remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Bret is survived by his loving wife, Beth; his mother, Anita; his brother, Butch (Teresa) Etheridge; his sister, Stacee (Steve) Prigge; father and mother-in-law Benson and Charlene (Woodard) Breeden, sister-in-law, Nancy (William) Cowsert, and brother-in-law, Nathan Breeden and many nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews, and a multitude of friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Glen Etheridge, and his sister-in-law, Laura Breeden.

His visitation will be held on Saturday May 23, 2026 from 9:00 AM -11:30 AM at Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center, located at 8941 Kleinman Rd (one block south of Ridge Rd), Highland, IN 46322 with his funeral services to follow directly after.

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper - Michael Kuiper-Vass by calling us at 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

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