Sandra "Sandy" (Hinckley) Poglitsh

Sandra “Sandy” Poglitsh was born in Kingsville, Texas on August 21, 1944 to the late Homer and Helen Hinckley. Sandra studied at Suny State University of New York before marrying and settling down with the love of her life, Rudolph E. “Rudy” Poglitsh in the summer of 1966.

Their marriage produced and reared two wonderful boys, Rudy C. and Chris J. The boys and their respective wives, Ruth and Carol, presented Sandy and Rudy with a total of six grandchildren.

In addition to her first career of raising the boys, Sandy always kept active. Playing piano, trombone, and organ, she was a church organist while in high school then again in Bloomington, IN where she and Rudy started their family. Additionally, she was an FTD florist at a shop arranging the flowers she always loved.

Her 10-year second career as Soccer Mom began in Los Angeles supporting eldest son (Rudy) and continued through Portland, OR and Columbus, OH where she started her third 10-year career in 1988 as Drum Corps Tour Mom and Chuck Truck Cook supporting younger son (Chris) and thousands of other Bluecoat kids and instructors. Chris aged out in 1991 but Sandy continued with the Bluecoats Drum Corps. Drum Corps International honored her as Volunteer of the Year in 1994 and she was inducted into the Bluecoats Hall of Fame in 1995.

While in Los Angeles, she was member # 2789867 of the A.M.C. & B.W. of N.A. meat packaging Union and studied at Cal Poly Pomona. In Portland, she was the bookkeeper for a tire shop. In Columbus, she worked for a Financial Planning firm, studied at Franklin University, and continued making floral arrangements for friends and families. In South Boston, VA and Detroit, MI she continued working for the Bluecoats, but also led the design and construction of their South Boston home. All this time, Sandy also hosted countless business dinners, ski trips, etc. supporting Rudy’s work and too many parties to count for their sons.

After retiring in Ft. Myers, FL and Southern Shores, NC, Sandy volunteered in thrift stores that supported local Crisis Pregnancy Centers, as a Big Sister at an inner-city middle school, and in youth programs at Church. Her later retirement consisted of the sale of their last home, moving to Mission, TX buying an RV and driving each year to Wasilla, AK to summer with the grandchildren who had moved there after returning from serving as missionaries for 10 years in Swaziland, Africa. Her final residence was Hoosier Village, Zionsville, IN, where at 78 she passed away on March 24, 2023.

She is survived by her husband, Rudy; sons, Rudolph C. (Ruth Ellen) Poglitsh and Christopher John (Carol Ann) Poglitsh; grandchildren, Grace, Daniel, Faith, Hope, Anastasia, and Obed; and sister, Bonnie (Tom) Tomchik.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, 1870 West Oak Street, Zionsville, IN 46077 on Friday, April 21st at 11 AM. Friends are welcome to visit from 10 AM until the time of the Mass. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed.

In lieu of flowers or donations, say a prayer for Sandy. And where possible, hug your mom and spouse today.