Obituary of Velma Ruth Chandler

Velma Ruth (Coplen) Chandler of Indianapolis, 96, passed away on November 25, 2018. She was born on July 28, 1922, on a farm in Fulton County, Indiana, to the late Lee and Cora (Zimmerman) Coplen. She was a graduate of Gilead High School in Miami County. She was a farm girl, war worker, convenience store proprietor and short-order cook, housewife and mother, kitchen band member, and church and community volunteer. Her love for travels with her family grew into many years of organizing tours for her retirement community. Her years of sewing to clothe her family eventually morphed into the creation of numberless lap robes and quilts for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nameless veterans, and unrelated and astounded parents-to-be. Most of all, she enjoyed laughing and spending time with her always-growing family and friends. Ruth was a long-time member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, serving in her later years as one of its vaunted "potica ladies."

Survivors include her children, Fred (Doris) Chandler, Charles (Janet) Chandler, Marsha (Larry) Lehman, Martha (Joe) Hurley, Braden (Denise) Chandler, and Harry Chandler; seventeen grandchildren, Eli (Katherine) Chandler, Linda (Phil) Nichols, Cheryl Lehman, Patrick (Missi) Hurley, Ruthie Hurley (Ed) Franchi, Teresa (Chris Green) Hurley; Jeanne Hurley, Sarah Hurley, Jimmy (Whitney) Hurley, Reena (Cory) Markstahler, Jenifer Chandler, Katie Marie (Tim) Yarber, Alison (James Handy), Scott Chandler, Jeff Chandler, Jason (Angie) Grube, and Jeremy (Abby) Grube; and twenty-seven great-grandchildren; brother, Ralph (Barbara) Coplen; sisters-in-law Muriel Coplen Zisk and Beverly Lance Coplen and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Chandler; siblings, Wayne Coplen, Charles Coplen, June Brown, Dean Coplen, Bob Coplen, and Dale Coplen; grandsons, John Phillip Hurley and Barak Taylor Chandler; and daughter-in-law, Sherry Taylor Chandler. Visitation will be held at Stevens Mortuary, 5520 W. 10th St., Indianapolis, IN 46224 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm on Thursday, November 29. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 30, at 11 a.m. in St. Christopher Catholic Church, 5301 W. 16th St., Speedway, IN 46224 with additional visitation prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, PO Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036; St. Meinrad School of Theology, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577; and St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti School Lunch Program, 4625 N. Kenwood Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46208. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.stevensmortuary.net