Marilyn Ann Tranbarger

Marilyn Ann Tranbarger passed away on June 13, 2025 in Sarasota, Florida after a long illness. She
was 96 years of age. She is survived by her husband of 75 years Glen, her son David, daughter Jane
and daughter-in-law Karen Reed, all of Sarasota. She is also mourned by her brother Thomas and
sister-in law Ginger (Stankey) Sowash, as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Martha (Vanness) Sowash, as well as grandson
Andrew Tranbarger. Also fondly remembered are father-in-law Orville Tranbarger, mother-in-law
Dorothy (Brown) Tranbarger, brothers-in-law Wilbur Tranbarger and Paul Tranbarger, sister-in-law
Phyllis (Hunt) Tranbarger and nephew Donald Jay Tranbarger.
Marilyn was born in Anderson, Indiana, on April 3, 1929. Despite the Great Depression and a World
War, she enjoyed a happy childhood and graduated from Anderson High School in 1947. It was there
that she met the love of her life, Glen. They were married August 7, 1949 and recently celebrated their
75th wedding anniversary with many friends and family in attendance. Their first home together was a
cozy house in Anderson’s Meadowbrook neighborhood. Glen was employed as a draftsman and
engineer by Delco-Remy divison of General Motors. When Glen was called to Army service in 1952,
Marilyn followed him to Ft. Riley, Kansas where Glen taught basic auto mechanics to troops headed
overseas. Prior to her marriage, Marilyn worked as a typist for Delco-Remy.
Following Glen’s military service, the couple returned to Anderson and after a few years built a house
on ten acres in the countryside where they lived happily for the next 57 years, raising two children,
David and Jane. Glen retired from Delco-Remy in 1986, after which they spent many winters
snowbirding with Glen’s brother Paul and Paul’s wife Phyllis, who had been Marilyn’s best friend since
childhood. The four soon decided that Sarasota, Florida was the place to be. Glen and Paul flew kites
on Siesta Beach while Marilyn and Phyllis enjoyed tropical relaxation. Glen and Marilyn moved to
Sarasota permanently in 2014.
Marilyn enjoyed taking care of her family. She was the first to rise in the morning and the last to go to
bed at night. She enjoyed family get-togethers, reading and traveling. One of her greatest joys was her
grandson Andy. In her later years, she loved to look through her many accumulated albums of
photographs. She was a member of Fifth Street United Methodist Church in Anderson and Trinity
United Methodist Church in Sarasota.
Calling hours for Marilyn will be held on Saturday, June 21st, 2025 from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Loose Funeral Homes & Crematory, 200 W 53rd St, Anderson IN 46013. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM. The burial will take place at Anderson Memorial Park, 6805 Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Blvd, Anderson IN 46013.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), 225 N. Michigan Ave.
Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone 1-800-272-3900.