Sarah F. Lewis

Sarah’s long life ended on July 18th, 2025. She was born on June 2, 1922, in Hardinsburg, Indiana to Clarence and Mary (Wiseman) McKinley. Sarah was the second oldest of our grandparents’ five children.

Prior to her junior year in high school, the family moved from Hardinsburg to Delphi, Indiana. As a high school student, Sarah played trombone in the Freddie Shaffer and His All Girl Band. The band performed in local venues around Indiana.

After high school, Sarah left for college at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She loved her campus life and was very involved in many activities. At a time when most women could not continue formal education beyond high school, Sarah graduated from IU with a business degree in 1944.

Post college, Sarah moved to Indianapolis to work for Sears, Roebuck and Company. Sears began training her to become their first-ever female personnel manager (now human resources). Shortly after beginning this job, she met another Sears employee – Ken Lewis, our dad. Ken had recently returned from serving in World War II with the U.S. Marine Corp.

Ken was tall, dark, handsome and funny. They fell in love and married in 1946. Sarah and Ken had three daughters: Susan, Karen, and Nancy. Our father’s career with Sears had our family moving several times. It began in Indianapolis, then to Peoria, Illinois, Lafayette, Indiana, Ottawa, Illinois, Bay City, Michigan and lastly, Rockford, Illinois.

Our mother was known for her beauty, high energy and strong personality. She and our father were generous in helping their children and grandchildren with educational expenses. Sarah’s father taught her his philosophy, which was each generation should help the next.

Sarah is survived by her daughters, Susan Nagy, Karen (Dave) Carter and Nancy (Mike) Marvell; her grandchildren, Mark (Kristen Shannon) Nagy, Sarah (Luke Nelson) Marvell, Ann (Wyatt Fertig) Marvell, Tyler (Ashley) Carter and Ryan (Brittainy) Carter; and her great-grandchildren, Anna Nagy, Diana Marvell-Fertig and Wyatt Carter.

A private celebration of Sarah’s life will take place at a later date. Inurnment will be at the Delphi Masonic Cemetery in Indiana. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com