Blanche (Leonard) Poling, 89, of Indianapolis (formerly Columbia, TN and Wakarusa, IN) passed away on September 21, 2024, at home with family.
Blanche was born on October 4, 1934, to Samuel and Pauline Leonard in Port Royal, Pennsylvania. She graduated in 1952 from Tuscarora Valley High School in Juniata County and took a job at Bell Telephone.
On December 14, 1957, she married Ed Poling in Sanford, Florida where he was stationed in the Navy. She spent many years raising her family full time but eventually went back to work outside the home; her last full-time job was as a dietary manager at Lu Ann Nursing Home in Nappanee.
Ed & Blanche called Wakarusa, IN home for more than 30 years, but upon retirement they moved to Tennessee where they were able to enjoy milder weather and a more central location to their children and grandchildren.
Their hilly neighborhood provided a pleasant challenge to Blanche’s 3-mile walks. They loved to travel yet remained very active in their local church.
After Ed’s passing, Blanche eventually moved back to Indiana.
She continued to be an avid reader, a prayer warrior, and a spirited supporter of Purdue football and the Cincinnati Reds.
She is survived by her children Craig (Marcia) Poling of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Chris (Kathy) Poling of Indianapolis, Lacretia Kyle of Columbia, Tennessee, and Fran (Myron) Bontreger of Goshen. Also surviving are her grandchildren Sarah (Sonny) Del Grosso, Ryan Poling, Caleb Poling, Colin (Alexandra) Poling, Spencer (Jennifer) Poling, Katrina Poling, Jacqueline (Sabian) Beard, Neil (Stella) Kyle, Jr., Lucas Bontreger, Sofia Bontreger, Olivia Bontreger, and two great-grandchildren.
Blanche was preceded in death by her husband Herman (Ed) Poling, and a son-in-law, Neil Kyle.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 3rd from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home in Nappanee.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 on Friday, October 4th at First Church of God in Nappanee with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Stony Point Cemetery in Etna Green.
Memorial gifts may be made to World Missionary Press, Inc. (wmpress.org) P.O. Box 120, New Paris, IN 46553 or the Salvation Army.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/24/24 - Image Year: 1952
TVHS CLASS OF 1952 Front Row: Leona Taylor, Leota Cisney, Blanche Leonard, Peggy Seiber, Nan Bhooher, Mary Peterson, Edith Longacre; Middle Row: Mrs. Kephart (Teacher) Back Row: Donald Kepner, Donn Kepner, Jasper Page, Ronald Fidler, Lane Swartz, Walter Bailor, Marlin Johnson
