Alfred Lee VanGilder, 71, passed away as a result of a vehicle accident near Hymera, Indiana, Saturday August 10, 2013. He was born March 23, 1942, in Vigo County, Indiana to Loren E. VanGilder and Florence R. (Sowder) VanGilder. He attended Honey Creek High School. Alfred was an Army Veteran having served in France during the Vietnam War. He retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Terre Haute, Indiana in 1998, after working there for 23 years. Alfred was presently a bus driver for Turner Coaches.
Alfred was a member of the Zorah Shrine, Terre Haute York Rite bodies, and Past Master of Social Lodge #86. He was a current member of Swiss City Eastern Star, and was Past Patron of Terre Haute #43, Order of Eastern Star. He was a past officer of the Shelburn American Legion and was still very active. Alfred enjoyed flying his ultra-light airplanes, fishing, target shooting, and being with family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 brothers, Donald, Arnold, and William L. VanGilder. He had a special friend, Eva Birdsall of Linton, Indiana. He is survived by his daughter Vickie Barnett, her husband Todd; son Alfred VanGilder II, and his wife Zina, all from Terre Haute; brother Richard E. VanGilder, his wife Martha of Scott City, Indiana; sisters Judy Pierce, her husband Donny of Cecil, Arkansas, Sandra Kimmell of Shelburn, Indiana, and Carol Sluder of Jasper, Indiana; sister-in-law Sandy VanGilder of Lafayette, Indiana; half sister Margaret hunt of Indianapolis, Indiana; 5 grandchildren, Nichole VanGilder of Indianapolis, IN, Andrea Marshall, Julie Casad, her husband Eric, Anthony Barnett, and Alfred VanGilder IV all of Terre Haute; 4 great grandchildren, Nicholas and Collin Casad, Dylan, and Dylanee Marshall; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins that were all very special to him.
Funeral services are scheduled for Friday August 16, 2013 in DeBaun Funeral Homes Springhill Chapel, 85 E Springhill Drive, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Pogue Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday August 15, 2013 from 4:00p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home, with a Masonic service at 7:00 p.m.