Ted Lacey

Ted Lacey, 89, of Anderson, passed away December 18, 2017 at Bethany Point Health Campus. Ted had been very active enjoying his family and life in the community until the past month. He was born January 30, 1928 near Petroleum, IN (south of Bluffton), the son of the late Albert and Wanda Lacey. He was raised during the Great Depression by his great-grandmother, Sarah Ellen McNeal, on a farm in southern Wells County. During his early high school years, his great grand-father passed away and as the oldest boy, Ted took over the family farm. This required that he quit school and spend his time caring for the animals and planting and harvesting crops, not with a tractor but with draft horses. At the age of 18, Ted’s great-grandmother died and the family farm was put up for auction by the bank. Ted was homeless. He visited his aunt Virgil Dunwiddie in Anderson and she invited him to live with her family. He had a knack for fixing equipment on the farm and his interest in mechanics paid off. Rex Lucas hired him at his gas station and helped him learn auto mechanics. Ted was hired as a mechanic at the Ford Dealership in downtown Anderson. It was there that he met the love of his life, the assistant office manager, Sallie Coble. They began their relationship over coffee at the White Frost Restaurant across the street from the Ford building. They were married the following June of 1952, sixty-five years ago! Their marriage has been a wonderful model of love and commitment to all who have known them including their children and grandchildren. Ted left the Ford dealership and opened his own auto repair business in 1957. Harold Shirley joined him as a partner in 1958 and formed the L& S Auto Repair business. He retired and sold the business in 1995. Ted and Sallie had two children. Nancy was born in 1953 and is a retired elementary school teacher. She married Mo Hodge and they have two children, Audra and Jared. Audra and her husband Justin Kauffman have three sons, Daniel, James Ted and Joel. Jared and his wife Renee have two girls, Sydney and Rylee. Bryan was born in 1957 and is a builder. He married Joni Dixon and they have two daughters, Amanda and Jill. Amanda and her husband Nick Gapinski have three children, Cameron, Gavin and Kendall. Jill and her husband, Eric Anderson, have three children, Jameson, Lacey and Titus. Ted was preceded in death by a brother, Don Lacey and Barney, their beloved beagle. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory with Pastor Mo Hodge officiating. Burial will follow at the Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to South Meridian Church of God in Anderson.