Obituary of Lela Belle Sandifur

Lela Belle (Tanner) Sandifur

    July 29, 1917 – January 26, 2021

Lela Belle Sandifur, 103, of Leesburg, Florida, formerly of Winamac, Indiana, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter on January 26.

Lela was born July 29, 1917 in Rensselaer as the fourth child of Willard and Goldie (Wolfe) Tanner.  She grew up a farmer’s daughter along with twelve siblings.  She graduated from Medaryville High School in 1935.

Lela married Bruce More Sandifur on March 3, 1940 in North Salem, officiated by Rev. Elwood Dunn.  They started life together in Knox, settled in Medaryville until 1948 before moving to La Porte where they raised their three children.  In 1972 they moved to Winamac to live out their retirement years and celebrated 59 years of marriage before Bruce passed away in 1999.

Lela was a housewife who loved baking, especially pies, mowing the lawn, gardening, canning and crocheting afghans for family and friends.  In her later years she crocheted over 200 lap afghans for nursing homes until her eye sight diminished.  In 2013 she moved, along with her daughter, to Florida to be closer to her son.

She was an active member of the Christian Church and instrumental in organizing the Maple City Christian Church in La Porte.  She loved helping others and faithfully serving her Lord.  She raised her children to know the importance of family, the meaning of love and the power of faith.

She is survived by two daughters, Bonnie L. Ketch of Leesburg, Florida, Betty E. McFarland of Longmont, Colorado, and one son, Robert L. (Lynn) Sandifur of Leesburg, Florida;

nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild; three brothers, C. Delos (Jackie) Tanner, G. Dean (Wilma) Tanner, Don L. (Judy) Tanner; one sister, Reba J. (Everett) Kopka and one sister-in-law, Lois Tanner.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce More Sandifur; parents, Willard Wilson Tanner and Golden Olive (Wolfe) Tanner; six brothers, Vern E., Floyd L., Ezra E., Lester W., J.D., and Frank L.; two sisters, Margret L. Hazlett and Shirley M. Ringen; eight in-laws and two sons-in-law, William (Bill) F. Ketch and James (Jim) T. McFarland.

Memorial and graveside service will be held at a later date.