Frances Gillenwater

Mary 'Frances' (Sanders) Gillenwater, age 90, of Montpelier, IN, passed away at 9:17 PM on September 26, 2025 at Marion Health. She was born on Wednesday, April 3, 1935, in Kingsport, TN. She married Charles 'Buck' Gillenwater on Monday, December 22, 1952 in Gate City, VA. Frances was the Salutatorian of her graduating class at Midway High School in 1953. They remained in Gate City, VA until moving to Montpelier in 1955. Frances alongside her husband, Buck helped their daughter and son-in-law at the local grocery known as Coffel's Family Market where everyone in town loved her homemade salads. She was a former member of the Fisher Body Sympathy Club, and also a member of Alethea Chapter #206 Order of Eastern Star. Frances enjoyed crafts, floral arrangements, cooking, and spending time with her family.

She will be forever missed by her two daughters - Debra (Mitchel) Coffel, Montpelier, IN, & Lea Anna Hicks, Montpelier, IN, grandsons - Douglas Coffel, Montpelier, IN, Tyson Coffel, Montpelier, IN, Todd Coffel, Montpelier, IN, Cody (Jen) Hicks, Montpelier, IN, granddaughter - Sasha Arden, CA, great grandsons - Logan Coffel, Luke Coffel, Colton Lee Darnel, great granddaughters - Kyla Coffel, Kaylea Coffel, Mackenzie Arden, Sloan Arden, Everleigh Arden, brothers - Sam Sanders, Maryville, TN, Phillip Sanders, Kokomo, IN, and Richard Sanders, Kokomo, IN. great great grandson - Lane Banter.

She was preceded in death by her husband - Charles 'Buck' Gillenwater, father - Henry Patton Sanders, mother - Lucille Josephine (Agee) Sanders, sisters - Margaret Sanders, Betty Hale, Mildred Kilgore, and Nancy Gillenwater, brothers – Tommy Sanders and Ron Sanders.

Family and friends may gather to share and remember at Walker & Glancy Funeral Home located at 109 W. Windsor St. Montpelier, IN. 47359 on October 6, 2025 from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

A service to celebrate her life will be at Walker & Glancy Funeral Home 3:00 P.M. following the visitation with Pastor Steve Rogers officiating. Interment will follow in the Brookside Memorial Park in Montpelier.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Walker & Glancy Funeral Home, Montpelier, IN.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Frances Gillenwater, please click here to visit our sympathy store.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Frances Gillenwater, please click here to visit our sympathy store.

Memorial Donation