Mary Milz/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - A man on a mission to make deliveries on time is now missing. He's a father and grandfather, and he's 91 years old.
Jack Obenchain, a part-time courier for Mears Machine in Avon, was last seen Monday afternoon in another state, far from his last delivery.
His granddaughter, Nancy Bray Boggs said, "We're very concerned. It's unlike him. We're a close family and we keep in touch."
Jack's boss, Darrell Mackey said Jack made two deliveries Monday morning, but never showed up for a third, a regular stop of his on the city's east side.
"Jack had been there several times before. He had familiar routes and he knew them all," said Mackey.
He suspects instead of taking I-70 east and getting off at the Post Road exit, Jack continued on I-70 east. The family later learned that at 4:30 Monday afternoon, police stopped Jack in western Ohio for reckless driving.
Boggs said Jack told the officer he was lost and trying to read his map. Unaware of any other problems, Boggs said the officer evidently tried to help with directions and sent Jack on his way.
The family, meantime, finally reached Jack on his cell phone around 6:00 p.m. Monday. The connection was bad, the conversation brief. Boggs said Jack indicated he was close to home and would see them soon.
Subsequent calls went unanswered.
Boggs is very worried. "We think some sudden medical condition caused this. It's so unlike him. He didn't have a memory problem, was never disoriented before."
Mackey said fellow employees were "bewildered. Everyone all day long wants to know is there any word on Jack?" He said when the heard he was missing, "many wanted to take off driving and go looking for him."
But where? They're not sure where Jack went or how far he got. "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Boggs.
That's why they're distributing flyers at truck stops and elsewhere and asking various trucking companies to keep an eye out for Jack.
Mackey said they're trying to stay positive. "Jack's extremely sharp. He knows how to take care of himself. We know he's confused, but we're positive we'll find him or he'll make it back here."
Mackey is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Jack's whereabouts.
Clifford E. Obenchain is also known as C.E. or Jack. He is 5'11", 185 pounds, gray hair, and wears glasses that darken in light conditions. He was driving a 1999 blue and silver Chevy Suburban with right side damage to the doors and fender, Indiana license plate 786692A.
Call 911 or 317-272-4485 if you see him.
Jack Obenchain's granddaughter handing out flyers.
Obenchain works part time as a delivery man for Mears Machine in Avon.
Obenchain's employer, Darrel Mackey, is offering a $5,000 reward for information on his whereabouts.
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