Gloria M. Anderson

Indianapolis, Indiana – Gloria M. Anderson, 89, passed away on December 11, 2023, while being comforted by her family and friends. She was born to Clark and Bernice (Justus) Farabee on September 17, 1934, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Gloria graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1952, where she was active in the Techoir and Band playing the alto Saxophone. She began working for L.S. Ayres downtown Indianapolis, then started a career with the Federal Government working at the Finance Center, U.S. Army, Fort Harrison and the Naval Avionics Center Indianapolis IN where she met her late husband Andy, whom she married in 1981. She remained there until her eventual retirement in 1989 after thirty years of service. 

Gloria was a founding member of the Tecumseh Lodge, working with both their Kunieh Scouting Program, and the White Star Gourd Dance Society, which honors Veterans. As a member of Emmanuel Church of Greenwood, she was the “bag lady” for the Hope Restored widow’s group because she was always prepared for anything, and the Campers on Mission. She worked in the administrative office at the Indianapolis 500, and loved meeting the celebrities.

Gloria was a woman of many interests. She was a Girl Scout leader for 15 years. She loved to garden, play the piano, write poems, swim, go camping, listened to jazz and Christian music, and she was also a certified clown (Clarksey), the hobo she used in ministry. She never missed a chance to make people laugh and never missed a basketball or football game.

Most of all, Gloria was a wonderful mother and caregiver, who oversaw a loving family. She was a sweetheart and our mama bear-and she will be missed.

In addition to her late husband and parents, Gloria is preceded in death by her daughter, JoNel Lynn Choate who passed in 2013, and stepdaughter Mary Lou Francis who passed in 2019.  

She is survived by her children Deborah Jean (Hager) Bowers (Dale), Gayle Ann (Hager) Hammons (Michael), Eddie, Rick, and Wade Anderson. Her siblings are Betty Freeman (deceased), Robert Farabee, Susie Miller, Patrick Farabee, Johnny Farabee (deceased), Daniel Farabee, Jane Farabee, Clark Edward Farabee, Mary Kay Black, Charles Davis (deceased), and Charlene Ann Davis. as well as 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren.