Our Story
Learn our story, from the beginning and into the future.
Ever since we opened our gates we have approached life (and death) differently. While some just see the end of a loved one’s life as a time for grief and mourning, we prefer to think of it as a time for reflection, appreciation and even celebration. This is evident in everything we do, from the way we conduct our services to the amenities we choose to offer. We are not a burial ground. We are a close knit community family dedicated to honoring, sharing and preserving the amazing and inspirational stories that are life.
Why Us?
In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.
We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to plan ahead and present options without overwhelming the family and meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier. We partnered with many local florists so we can offer you a wide range of flowers for your loved one. View our recent obituaries here.
Learn the legacy.
A Dream Fulfilled
Almost 17 years to the day before we opened our new family funeral home, I began my career in funeral service. I began here, in New Castle, at a local funeral home. I had one year of college under my belt and no idea what I was to do in life. After a few months of helping people make it through the toughest time in their lives, I instinctively knew that this was the plan God had for me. I learned very early the importance of maintaining high standards in customer service, going beyond what was expected in order to create a meaningful and memorable experience. I learned to treat every family with the same respect and care whether they purchased an expensive funeral or needed financial assistance. I also learned the importance of good business management and maintaining reasonable funeral costs.
I went on to graduate from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1991 and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. I held a position in regional funeral home management for eight years overseeing the operation of 35 funeral homes and 17 cemeteries in Indiana and Ohio. This experience solidified my desire to open my own family funeral home. It was wonderful training to learn the ins and outs of funeral service before opening Sproles Family Funeral Home with my father.
Who We Are
Meet our staff. Members of the local community make everything that happens possible.
Together, we make this place amazing.
Rev. Thomas Sproles
Co-Owner
After pastoring in Tennessee & North Carolina, Rev. Sproles and his family moved to New Castle in 1984 to assume the pastorate of the Pilgrim Holiness Church on Riley Road. There, he served as pastor for over 23 years. In 2008 he assumed the pastorate of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Church in Dublin, Indiana.
Rev. Sproles is also a builder, and began constructing churches in 1979. After his son John joined him in construction, they cofounded Sproles Corp. Commercial Building Contractors in 1997. They have constructed over 100 churches and related projects.
In 2006 Rev. Sproles joined with his two sons, Tom & John, to build Sproles Family Funeral Home in order to provide the community with an exceptional funeral home facility. By building the funeral home personally, the Sproles Family has been able to keep funeral costs reasonable; even less than some firms in town.
In January of 2007 Rev. Sproles sold his portion of Sproles Corp. to his son John and now devotes more time to the ministry but continues to assist his sons in the funeral home and in construction.
Rev. Sproles and his wife Paula are the proud parents of four children, Connie (husband: Jeff) Richwine, Tom Sproles (wife: Mary Beth), Leah DeArmond, and John Sproles (wife: Julie) all of New Castle; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, Ford Tractors, and his 1952 Chevrolet.
Tom Sproles, CFSP
Funeral Director & Co-Owner
Tom Sproles is a licensed funeral director and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner with over 33 years of experience in funeral service.
Tom began his career in funeral service in 1989 at a local New Castle funeral home. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1991 where he was president of his class and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Tom is the only funeral director in Henry County to achieve the CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner) designation from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
Prior to opening Sproles Family Funeral home, Tom held a position in regional funeral home management for eight years. He oversaw the operation of 35 funeral homes and 17 cemeteries in central Indiana and Ohio. Tom has served on the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service since 2014 when he was appointed by then-governor Mike Pence.
He has served on the boards of the New Castle-Henry County Public Library, Henry County Pregnancy Care Center, Pilgrim Holiness Church, Heartland Christian School, and Glen Oaks Health Campus. Tom is a long-time member of Rotary.
Tom and his wife Mary Beth, an RN, have three children: Sarah Beth (husband: David) Sanford, Hannah Marie (husband: Josh) Cravens, and Daniel Thomas. They are the extremely proud grandparents of Benaiah Owen Sanford, Elaina Marie Cravens, and Ellie Kate Sanford.
Tom is a speaker, trainer, and coach with the Maxwell Leadership Team. He speaks to business and professional organizations across US on such topics as Hospitality and Leadership. He also sings professionally and has recorded three CDs, "Peace," "Healing Hands" and his most recent project, "Always Faithful." All of these are available at the funeral home resource center.
Tom and Mary Beth love to travel and spend time with their grandchildren. He also enjoys riding motorcycles, reading, writing, having deep conversations over coffee, and eating (way too much)!
Mary Beth Sproles
Grief Support Facilitator
Mary Beth Sproles is a Registered Nurse in OB/GYN and has worked at Community Hospital in Anderson for over 30 years. She and Sue Blackburn lead our grief support groups. Mary Beth is a 1990 graduate of The Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati, Ohio. She met her husband, Tom Sproles, when they attended God's Bible School in Cincinnati prior to her entering nursing school and Tom entering mortuary college. They married on June 21, 1991.
Mary Beth and Tom have three children: Sarah Beth (husband: David) Sanford, Hannah Marie (husband: Josh) Cravens, and Daniel Thomas. They are the extremely proud grandparents of Benaiah Owen Sanford, Elaina Marie Cravens, and Ellie Kate Sanford.
Mary Beth enjoys travelling, reading, and especially cooking and baking for her family. She is also an excellent seamstress but at this stage in life being a Nana to her three grandchildren is what brings her the greatest joy.
David Frederick
Funeral Director
David is a licensed funeral director and professional embalmer in the states of Indiana and Ohio. David has worked in funeral service since 2008. He earned an Associates in Business Administration from God’s Bible School & College in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his Bachelors in Mortuary Science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. David was recently selected by the National Funeral Director's Association as one of 20 young funeral directors from the US and Canada for their National Emerging Leaders Program.
David and his wife, Bethany, are natives of Cincinnati and have made New Castle their home since 2015. They have two boys, Channing and Connor. Together they enjoy travelling, spending time outdoors and in the community of Henry County. David is active in the National Funeral Directors Association, the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, the Ohio Embalmers Association and growing as a professional. He also serves on the board of the Henry County Habitat for Humanity.
Andrea Thornburg
Funeral Director & Advance Planning Specialist
Andrea Thornburg has been a licensed funeral director since 1998. Andrea specializes in Advanced Funeral Planning. She is a 1992 graduate of Wapahani High School and earned college degrees from Ivy Tech State College and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
Andrea attends Union Chapel Ministries and enjoys spending time with her three boys. She is a member of Tri-Kappa (Delta Phi Chapter) and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. In her free time, she enjoys traveling.
You can contact Andrea at [email protected].
Terri McKinsey
Office Manager
Terri brings almost 36 years of funeral home administrative experience to our team. She is a 1972 graduate of Blue River Valley High School and lives in Mooreland.
She co-founded the Blue River May Tea Awards Program, providing scholarships to BRV senior girls. She is a past member of the New Castle Business Professional Women's organization.
Terri enjoys spending time with her family, listening to audiobooks, tracing family genealogy, Blue River High School Basketball, and most recently attending Indy Fuel Hockey games.
She and her late husband, Dennis, have two children, Clint McKinsey (wife Emily) and Michelle Lamb; five grandchildren, Ricky Lamb, Alexis Smith (husband: Mike), Alyse Lamb, Alex Fields (wife Karlee) and Joe Fields, and one great-granddaughter, Reagan.
Sue Blackburn
Aftercare & Resource Center Coordinator
Sue leads our Aftercare Program which includes our fall grief support group and manages our unique Family Resource Center.
Sue was born and raised in Henry County. She was a member of the first graduating class of Blue River Valley High School in 1965.
She is a member of Springport Christian Church where she serves in many different capacities. Sue served on the executive board of the Henry County Mental Health Association and was co-founder of the Henry County Area Alzheimer's Conference. She co-founded the Blue River May Tea Awards Program, providing scholarships to BRV senior girls. For many years, she served on the board of the Henry County Pregnancy Care Center.
She enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her family.
Sue is no stranger to grief having lost a son, Jamie, in a tragic accident in 1992.
She lives in Springport with her husband Danny. They have two children, Joe (wife: Angela) Blackburn and Lisa (husband: David) Garner; and five grandchildren, Hunter, Zachary, Emma Grace, Ethan and Evan.
Janet Modjeski
Staff Associate
Janet is a lifelong resident of Mooreland, and a graduate of Mooreland High School and Indiana Business College. She is married to Michael Modjeski and they have two daughters, Amy (husband: Bob) Boudrot and Angela Modjeski and six grandchildren.
Janet was affiliated with Bible Study Fellowship for 20 years prior to becoming the current Executive Director of the Henry County Pregnancy Care Center. She attends the Madison Park Church of God in Anderson. She also serves as a Chaplain for the Henry County Emergency Services and is a member of the Henry County Ministerial Association and the Tobacco Free Coalition. She is also a past member of the Mooreland Fair Board and Cradles Advisory Board.
Janet has been on staff with Sproles Family Funeral Home since their opening in October 2006. Her hobbies are spending time with her children and grandchildren, and reading.
Gerald Leonard
Staff Associate
Gerald Leonard is a staff associate and has worked in funeral service since the early 90’s. He retired from Draper, Inc. in Spiceland, IN.
He has been married for over 51 years to Susan. Together, they are the parents of Michelle (husband: Chris) McConnell and Aaron (wife: Aubrey) Leonard and have also been blessed with a granddaughter, Lauren Congdon and a grandson, CJ McConnell.
He is very active in the community and currently serves as a Board Member of Charles A. Beard Memorial School Corp.
Gerald currently attends Knightstown United Methodist Church and is a member of the Knightstown Golden Rule #16 Masonic Lodge.
Chuck Rhodes
Staff Associate
Chuck Rhodes was born and raised in Knightstown where he currently lives with his wife of nearly 48 years, Vickie. They have 2 sons, Chris and Kyle, and have been blessed and four grandchildren, Parker, Magdalena, Emersyn. and Charlie.
Chuck retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2016, where he served for over 34 years as a letter carrier.
He is a graduate of Knightstown High School and is active in the community serving on the Knightstown Town Council, Police Committee, Planning Commission, Veterans Memorial, and has been a videographer for the Knightstown High School football team for over 28 years.
Chuck is a member of the Knightstown First Christian Church where he serves as the Treasurer and as an Elder.
Linda Gilchrist
Staff Associate
Linda Gilchrist, of New Castle, was born and raised in Henry County and attended Hagerstown High School. Linda carries a Masters in Cosmetology Science as well as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She has had a career in singing gospel music and operating her Christian Clown Ministry. In years past she has participated in Master Works Choral and served at Civic Theaters in the area.
Linda was a volunteer chaplain at St. Vincent’s in Winchester. Presently she volunteers at Park Place Church on Riley Road, Bible Study Fellowship in New Castle, and Glad Tidings Church in Muncie. Together Linda and her late husband, George Gilchrist, have five children, eleven grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
Daniel Thomas Sproles
Staff Associate
Daniel Thomas Sproles, son of Tom and Mary Beth, will graduate in May, 2023 with a degree in Nursing from IVY Tech in Richmond. In addition to assisting at the funeral home, Daniel works as a student nurse at Reid Hospital in Richmond. He plans to work in Intensive Care as he studies to become a CRNA - Nurse Anesthetist.
Daniel is a 2020 graduate of Heartland Christian Academy in New Castle where he was a forward on the varsity basketball team. He enjoys working out, playing basketball and golf.
Caleb DeArmond
Staff Associate
Caleb DeArmond is a staff assistant, and a grandson of Rev. Thomas Sproles. With an eye for detail, Caleb is responsible for keeping our vehicle fleet clean and always looking sharp! He also assists us as needed on funeral services.
Caleb is currently a freshman at Indiana University in Bloomington where he is studying Business Marketing. He is a 2021 graduate of New Castle High School where really enjoyed playing Trombone in the Red Hot Blues Show Choir Team.
There is rarely a speck of dirt on his 4x4 Jeep Wrangler or the funeral home vehicles.
Jordan Flynn
Staff Associate
Jordan is a 2021 graduate of Blue River Valley High School. She will be a Sophomore this fall at Ball State University in Muncie studying Business. She plans to attend mortuary school in the fall of 2024.
Aileen McGrady
Staff Associate ~ In Loving Memory
Aileen McGrady passed peacefully from this life on the morning of Sunday, December 19, 2021, at Senior Living at Forest Ridge in New Castle, surrounded by her loving family. She was 97 years old.
Born on August 29, 1924, in New Castle, Indiana, Aileen was the only daughter of the late Clyde and Lucille (Stover) Dennis.
Aileen was a 1942 graduate of New Castle High School. She worked alongside her husband, John, at Henry County Memorial Park for 26 years and retired from First National Bank following 28 years of employment. Aileen’s warm and outgoing personality made her a perfect fit for greeting people at Sproles Family Funeral Home during her retirement years. She was a long-time member of St. Anne Catholic Church.
Always upbeat and joyful, Aileen enjoyed dancing with the Cornfield Cloggers even into her 90’s. She loved to play golf. Aileen enjoyed fellowship with her friends in the Locust Grove Community Club, the Women’s Club of New Castle, AARP, and volunteering at the Henry County Hospital Gift Shop. She was thrilled to be Co-Grand Marshall for the 2021 New Castle Homecoming Parade.
Those left to cherish Aileen’s memory include a son, Dennis (Sue) McGrady of Noblesville; three daughters, Sheila (Dick) Bolduc of Hartford City, Maureen (Marty) Talbott of Noblesville, and Denise Van Brunt of Pendleton; a daughter-in-law, Becki McGrady of New Castle; 14 grandchildren; John Patrick McGrady, Kimberly (Ron) Hanson, Carl (Amy) Hoppe, Megan (Jesse) Lytle, William (Angela) Hoppe, Ryan (Robyn) McGrady, Matthew (Kristi) McGrady, Collin (Stacy) McGrady, Jill (Jason) Nivens, Dr. Michael Talbott, and Breanne (Drew) Holloway, Jake (Audrey) Van Brunt, Julie Van Brunt (Michael Stumpf), and Jodie (Lester) Smith, and 27 great-grandchildren.
Aileen was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John G. McGrady; her son, Patrick M. McGrady; a son-in-law, Craig Van Brunt, and a brother, Harold Dennis.
Kingston Theodore "Teddy" Sproles
Grief Support Puppy
Kingston Theodore "Teddy" Sproles was born on May 27, 2020. He is currently in training to bring moments of joy during periods of grief to family and friends during services at the funeral home. He loves people and helping them momentarily take their minds off of the burden of sorrow.
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