Sarah "Sally" Schnaiter Lugar

Indianapolis – Sarah “Sally” Schnaiter Lugar passed away peacefully amid the love and attention of family and friends on May 2, 2024. She was born in Martinsville, Indiana on June 12, 1934 to Warren Miller Schnaiter and Sarah Black Schnaiter. Sally graduated from Martinsville High School in 1952 and graduated from Purdue University in 1956 with a BS in Home Economics. While at Purdue she was a varsity cheerleader and member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Additionally, she was president of her freshman dorm, worked three years on the Debris (yearbook) and was the first president of the journalism organization, Theta Sigma Phi. After college, Sally became an English, Health & Science, and Physical Education schoolteacher. She taught at Muncie Central High School in Muncie, Indiana; Manual High School in Indianapolis, Indiana; and briefly at School 46 in Indianapolis. Sally married Thomas R. Lugar, whom she met at Purdue, on April 12, 1958 and they were blessed with three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. At the time of Tom’s passing in 2018, they had been married for 60 wonderful years. Tom’s job required extensive international travel and Sally was able to join him on many occasions. She loved experiencing new cultures and creating new life-long friendships. These friendships deepened her passion for connecting with people and led to a long career of civic engagement and servant leadership. In the last 60-plus years, Sally has served more than 30 central Indiana nonprofit organizations, while managing a family farm in Morgan County Indiana and raising three children, yet never gave up the role of “teacher.” While her children were young, Sally’s activities focused on their schools and activities. Active interests turned into volunteerism, which turned into leadership. She held leadership roles within the Association of Parents and Teachers at multiple schools. When her children became involved in sports, Sally spent many days driving from tournament to tournament and game to game throughout the Midwest. Tennis, hockey and softball became almost full-time activities and she was never a passive spectator. Over the years, Sally became extremely involved with the tennis community. She served as the president of the Central Indiana Tennis Association, held leadership positions with the Western Tennis Association, WTA Junior Development Committee, National Junior Tennis League and co-founded the Indianapolis Junior Tennis Development Fund, Inc. Sally was inducted to the Indiana High School Hall of Fame in 1999. Outside of the tennis community, Sally continued her active engagement with the Indianapolis community. She held leadership positions with the Junior League of Indianapolis, Day Nursery Auxiliary, Methodist Hospital Task Core, WINS (Republican organization), Teachers’ Treasures, Purdue Consumer and Family Sciences Alumni Association, Purdue President’s Council, YWCA, Progressive Club, WFYI, Propylaeum Historic Foundation, Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association of Indianapolis, Daughters of the American Revolution, and was an active participant in many other civic/charitable organizations. In addition to numerous other awards and accolades, Sally received the Mayor’s Community Service Award from Mayor Greg Ballard and was a Jefferson Award recipient in 2010. Sally was a strong leader – a force, many would say – yet a compassionate friend to many. She loved to stay in touch with everyone she met and became a mentor to many along the way. Sally loved her family and relished every family gathering. She loved Tom and her children deeply and was extremely proud of their accomplishments. She taught right and wrong, honesty, fairness and respect. And, just like any successful teacher, she was stern, when necessary, but always with love in her heart. Sally was also a faithful servant. She was a former member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and Meridian Street Methodist Church and, most recently, was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church. Sally is survived by her sons Todd Lugar (Linda) and Scott Lugar; daughter Nancy Lugar Fogle (Paul); grandchildren: Austin Lugar (Sarah), Ryan Lugar, Benjamin Lugar (Emily), Brandon Lugar, and Megan Lugar; great-grandson Noah Lugar; sister Elizabeth “Betsy” Schnaiter Carpenter (Robert); sister-in-law Sharon Schnaiter; sister-in-law Charlene Lugar; sister-in-law Anne (Lugar) Johnson; and step sister-in-law Lynn Caldwell. She was preceded in death by her parents Warren Schnaiter and Sarah Black Schnaiter Byram; step-father Stanley Byram; husband Tom Lugar; brother Warren Schnaiter; brother-in-law Richard Lugar; brother-in-law Joseph Macrum; brother-in-law Harlow Johnson; step brother-in-law Howard Caldwell; and daughter-in-law Teresa Rose Lugar. Services will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260. Family and friends will gather from 10:30am – 1:15pm with food and refreshments and the Service will begin at 1:30pm. A graveside burial service will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery following the Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Teachers’ Treasures (1800 E. 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46201), Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation (6640 Riverside Drive, Suite 200, Dublin, OH 43017), Purdue for Life Foundation (Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center, 403 West Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2007), or your favorite charity. To share a memory, please visit www.leppertmortuary.com.