Rev. Dr. Marvin Chandler

Marvin Chandler, age 93, passed away Saturday, September 23, 2023, at his Indianapolis residence. He was born, the fifth of nine children, in Bloomington, Indiana on October 3, 1929, to the late Chris Chandler and Hattie Mary (Evans) Chandler. When he was only four years old, one day while playing “church” with his twin sister Marcella, and a cousin on the front porch of their home he got the inspiration to go inside and play the piano. He sat down and played, “Give Me That Old Time Religion”, chords, melody, and all. That moment was the start of an amazing life journey with music. Marvin and sisters Marcella and Marlene later formed a musical group known as the “Chandler Trio”. They performed throughout the Midwest to the delight of all audiences, and they produced several albums as well.

Growing up in Bloomington, Marvin met the love of his life, Portia. They eventually married and shared an amazing 73 years of matrimony.

As a teenager, Marvin felt the call to ministry. During his ministry, he pastored at the 2nd Baptist Church, Bloomington, Indiana; 2nd Baptist Church, LeRoy, New York; and The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, San Francisco, California.

Marvin graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. He received a Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Franklin College, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Butler University.

He served as an executive with the Rochester Area Council of Churches. There he created the first African American Congregation Based Ecumenical Association in the country. His career then took him to San Francisco, where he served as Executive Director of the San Francisco Council of Churches. He ended his long illustrious career by serving as Executive Director of the Howard Thurman Educational Trust.

The extraordinary gift of music was evident throughout Marvin’s life. He performed on several recordings of jazz and religious music, some of which he composed. After retiring from ministerial work, he continued to devote his time to music. He often performed around Indianapolis with jazz musician Everett Greene.

One of Marvin’s great passions was flying small planes. He obtained his pilot’s license at the age of 16, and he flew for many years. He once held the distinction of being the oldest active African American pilot in the country. During the later years of his life, he would revisit his passion by going to a small airport near his home to watch the planes take off and land. Marvin also enjoyed fishing, especially when he could get away with his brothers to nearby lakes around Bloomington.

Though he held many titles, honors, etc., his greatest honor was serving as the patriarch of his family. Nothing pleased him more than to gather around the piano to play and sing with family and friends.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Hattie Mary, siblings John Chandler, Mary Jo Longstreet, Robert Chandler, “Billy” Chandler, Marcus Chandler, Marlene Hicks, Jerry Chandler, and grandson Robert Hamilton. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Portia, his daughters Suzanne Faulk, Jolene (Cornelius) Wright and Faith Chandler, sibling twin, Marcella Morgan, brother-in-law Elijah “Pete” Hicks, grandchildren, Dominic Wright, Maurice (Kelly) Wright, Krista Wright, Lia (Jermaine), Matthew Wright, Jennifer Faulk, and 18 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, October 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomington Second Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the White Oak Cemetery in Bloomington. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be given to any school for children’s lunches or to any community kitchen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com for the Chandler family.