Gloria Bulger

Gloria Opal Tomlinson Lucas Butsch Bulger, 92, departed from this life on Friday, December 13, 2013. Gloria made her debut in Indianapolis on November 22, 1921, in her grandmother's cottage in the Brightwood neighborhood. The eldest child of Stuart Austin Tomlinson and Minnie Catharine Harraman Tomlinson was a precocious student, entering high school at the age of 12 and college at the age of 16. Gloria was an alumna of IPS James Russell Lowell School 51, Shortridge High School, and DePauw University. She also completed numerous courses in law, business administration, and real estate throughout her working years. Gloria married George Edward Lucas Sr. in 1942, Richard Valentine Butsch in 1946, and John Louis Bulger Sr. in 1975, all of whom preceded her in death. Gloria was primarily a stay-at-home mom in early adulthood, making sure her seven children did well in school and attended church regularly. She ferried her little ones to piano lessons and ballet classes, choir performances and theatrical productions, swim team practices and athletic events, Girl Scout and Boy Scout activities. She was active in the PTAs and PTOs of several northside IPS schools. She was an expert seamstress and knew how to stretch a meal to feed nine diverse appetites. Periodically, she did part-time work for R. E. Schenck Co., James H. Drew Corp. and Red Ball Transit Co. Gloria chaired the Marion County Mental Health Association's Annual Holiday Gift Lift for 17 years, which entailed collecting, sorting, wrapping, and delivering thousands of presents to mentally ill Central State Hospital patients. On her 40th birthday, Gloria took the Indiana Real Estate Commission's licensing exam. This event opened the door to a whole new world for her. In 1961, Gloria became one of the few but thereafter growing number of women to join the predominantly male real estate profession. She started her career with the Edward Cohn Company and was a million dollar producer in a time when a $20,000 home was considered expensive. She then became an associate of Bulger and Mason Realtors and within two years became part owner of the company. She married her business partner, and together John and Gloria Bulger operated their northside real estate brokerage for a quarter of a century. The company was for many years located in a former residence in Broad Ripple Village. As it evolved, the firm was know by various names over the years, including The Bulger & Mason HOME TEAM, CENTURY 21 Bulger and Mason, CENTURY 21 Accent, CENTURY 21 Bulger Inc., and Coldwell Banker Bulger. Just prior to John's death at age 88, the Bulgers sold their company, and Gloria continued on as an associate with the firm. In her final years as a real estate professional, she was affiliated with CENTURY 21 Scheetz, RE/MAX Real Estate Groups, and Carpenter Realtors. For more than half-a-century, Gloria was a member of the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, Indiana Association of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors. She served on many MIBOR committees over the years. She was a member of the Northside Marketing, Commercial Investment and Commercial Marketing Divisions of MIBOR. Gloria was a member of Women's Council of Realtors, serving as its President and later receiving its Member of the Year Award. She served on many committees and sub-committees of the organizations in which she was involved in her lifetime. Gloria was a member of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, Columbia Club, The Riviera Club, the American Association of University Women, and the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee. She was among the early members of the Mapleton-Fall Creek Neighborhood Association, the Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association, and the Broad Ripple Village Association, as each organization was founded. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; her brother George E. Tomlinson; her daughters Catharine E. Butsch Newland and Gloria L. Butsch Everhart; and her son, John Austin Butsch. Gloria is survived by her sister, Iola Tomlinson Lanaman, of Upper Arlington, Ohio; son G. Edward Butsch (Elizabeth) of Tustin, California; daughters Sharon Butsch Freeland (Michael) and Kristin L. Butsch of Indianapolis; daughter Maria L. Valentine (Camille Goode) of Los Angeles, California; stepson, John L. Bulger Jr. of Indianapolis; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Gloria's family wishes to thank the staff at Allisonville Meadows American Senior Community for their gentle, patient, and attentive care in her final 18 months. Arrangements have been entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center in Broad Ripple. Due to the busy holiday season and this winter's extreme weather, as well as family members who live at a distance, a gathering to celebrate Gloria's life will be held after the New Year. A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center, 1305 Broad Ripple Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46220. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and a brief service will be conducted at 6:00 p.m. by Rev. L. John Gable of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. Burial will be on Friday, March 7, 2014, 12:00 noon, at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9305 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219. Please check http://flannerbuchanan.com/ or call (317) 475-4475 for further details. You are invited to visit the Photos page to see images of Gloria's life or go to the Guestbook page to leave a personal message.