Faith B. Laird, 89, of Waldron, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Major Hospital in Shelbyville, Indiana, with family at her side.
Born June 1, 1936, in Rush County, Indiana, she was the daughter of Chester and Faye (Scull) Meal.
She married William Frederick “Bill” Laird on Sept. 8, 1957, at Waldron United Methodist Church. Bill preceded her in death on October 29, 2013.
She is survived by her sister, Barbara (Robert) White; her sons, Kevin (Valynda) of Bloomington, Eric (Mary Ann) of Mooresville, and Ted (Regina) of Arlington; and daughter, Beth Ann (Tony) Lennen of Shelbyville. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Dustin, Jennifer (Jordan) Black, Maggie (John) Absalom, Nicholas (Ashley), Jacob (Elizabeth), Benjamin (Kristiann), Morgan (Adam) Jarman, Andrew, Allison (Justin) Webb, Caitlin (Jake), Nolan (Kari), Anna (Ben) Ingle, and Mitchell (Keely); stepgrandchildren, David Lennen, Nikki (Adam) Jones, and Jessie Davis; and 23 great-grandchildren plus 3 step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brothers, Stanley and Harlan; and her sisters, Beverly Wagoner and Beth Gahimer.
Faith was a 1954 graduate of Waldron High School and a 1957 graduate of Indianapolis Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. After taking a 25-year break from nursing to raise her children, she returned to the healthcare workforce in 1984 as a staff nurse at Heritage House. She later joined the Indiana Healthcare Association, where she rose to the position of vice-president before joining the State of Indiana Division of Aging in 2008, from which she retired as director in January 2014. She was a longtime member of Waldron United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the church choir, taught Sunday School, and held various leadership positions for many years. Her service to the community, both as a church member and as a township trustee, made a lasting positive impact throughout the area.
Faith was a wonderful seamstress, an excellent swine showman, and an all-around great farm gal who had a tremendous love of cats. Even at the age of eighty, she could be found bush-hogging the pasture at Home Place Farm where she grew up. While Faith certainly was a devoted supporter of all things Purdue, she was an even more devoted supporter of her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her keen intellect and strong sense of duty have laid a strong foundation for her family and friends to build upon for generations to come.
Funeral services will be at 12 noon on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Waldron Church of the Risen Christ, 202 West Washington Street, Waldron, IN with Pastor Tom True & Pastor Levi Heck officiating.
Friends may call on the day of the funeral from 10 o’clock until the start of services.
Burial will be at Moscow Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Waldron Church of the Risen Christ or to Shelbyville-Shelby County Animal Humane, 705 Hale Road, Shelbyville, IN 46176.
Arrangements are being handled by Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home in Shelbyville.
