About Heritage Pointe Communities
Heritage Pointe offers joyful retirement living for every senior lifestyle with the choice of three premier communities in Warren, Huntington, and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. We feature Independent Living at both Warren and Ft. Wayne, and because our communities follow the Life Plan model of continuing care, you can be sure you’ll always find the helping hand of Assisted Living, the compassionate assistance of Memory Care, and trusted, personalized Skilled Nursing services and short-term Rehabilitation on all our campuses if ever needed.
Contact Our TeamOur Mission. Our Vision.
Heritage Pointe Mission: Senior communities of care inspiring mind, body, and soul.
Heritage Pointe Vision: To be premier communities committed to excellence of care through grace, compassion, and respect.
Meet the Team
A History Inspired by Faith
Heritage Pointe Communities is owned and operated by The United Methodist Memorial Home, an Indiana not-for-profit Corporation affiliated with The Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Heritage Pointe of Warren was founded as the Methodist Memorial Home for the Aged by William and Ruth Chopson in 1907. The Chopsons proposed to the Methodist North Indiana Conference that they would donate $25,000 to the establishment of a home for seniors if the Conference could match the gift. The Conference enlisted Rev. M.A. Harlan to raise the money. Upon the success of the fundraising effort, the citizens of Warren bought the original 58 acres of land for the Home. William Chopson then made a second offer. He would donate 300 additional acres and $12,500 in bonds on condition that the new building would be completed by April 1910. That condition was met, and the Home was officially dedicated on April 7, 1910.
Over the next 15 years, additions were made that expanded the capacity of the Home from 37 rooms to 104. The Home’s farms produced meat, dairy, and produce for the residents’ meals. By 1937, over 400 residents lived at the Home. The iconic Applegate Chapel with its soaring steeple was added in 1951. As the decades passed, more additions and improvements were made. 1989 saw the opening of the independent living Woodridge Towne Homes, and Dogwood Glen Villas were completed in 2003. The Pool and Fitness Center was added in 2000, and the Dogwood Glen Golf Course opened in 2005. Heritage Pointe of Huntington opened in 2001 as the second community in the portfolio, and our Fort Wayne location debuted in 2015. What unites all our communities is a longstanding legacy of inspiration from our Christian faith, a dedication to the notion of creating joy, and a steadfast commitment to continuing care.
Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors brings extensive experience and a range of expertise to providing oversight and guidance to Heritage Pointe Communities to ensure the highest quality of life for our residents.
A resident of Fort Wayne, Rev. Toni Carmer brings decades of professional experience in both healthcare and ministry to her role as the President of the UMMH Board of Directors. She began her career as a Registered Nurse specializing in psychiatric and mental health care before being called to ministry. She served for 33 years as an ordained United Methodist elder across northern Indiana. Retired since January 2022, Toni draws on her skills in communication, leadership, and pastoral care to support UMMH’s mission of providing compassionate, inclusive care to older adults. Toni is proud of UMMH’s forward-thinking vision and dedication to creating a vibrant, caring community for both residents and staff.
Jeff Jones is a retired senior director with Raytheon Technologies and BAE, where he led a $200 million communications business supporting U.S. Armed Forces and international governments. He oversaw the development of advanced radio and crypto systems used across global defense platforms. A U.S. Army veteran and former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, he served in Operation Urgent Fury. Jeff holds degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, and business, and has completed advanced training through Purdue and Raytheon. He currently serves as a national trustee for the Sons of the American Revolution and treasurer for multiple civic boards in Indiana. Jeff and his wife Donna live in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is proud to serve on the UMMH Board of Directors as Trustee Treasurer.
Marlene Fenstermacher is a retired Diaconal Minister of Christian Education in the United Methodist Church, with over 40 years of experience serving people of all ages in local congregations. She and her husband have personally cared for aging family members, giving her a deep understanding of the joys and challenges of aging. These experiences inspired her to serve on the UMMH Board of Directors. With a long family connection to the organization, Marlene is passionate about its mission and growth. She is grateful for the dedicated staffs and looks forward to contributing to the continued care and support of current and future residents.
Sherry Fulbright, a Fort Wayne native, is a retired United Methodist Church administrator and longtime community leader. A Purdue University graduate and United Methodist clergy widow, she served nearly 17 years as the Fort Wayne/Northeast District Conference Assistant. Sherry has held professional roles with Associated Churches of Fort Wayne & Allen County and was an instructor at the former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. With personal and professional experience in senior care, she understands the vital role Heritage Pointe communities play in quality senior living. Her work connected her with residents across all three United Methodist Memorial Home (UMMH) Indiana campuses. As a member of its Board of Directors Sherry is committed to supporting its mission of compassionate service and hospitality.
Rev. Kathie S. Jones is a retired Ordained Elder in the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. She holds a B.A. from Indiana University and an M.Div. from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Over the years, she has served congregations throughout northern Indiana and now serves part time as Associate District Superintendent in the Northeast District and interim pastor at New Haven UMC. Kathie is trained in conflict mediation, supervision, and organizational leadership, and she uses those skills to help others through times of change. She and her husband, Harold, live in Fort Wayne. In retirement, she enjoys painting, singing, and spending time outdoors.
A Fort Wayne resident, Rev. Steven Conner retired in 2018 after 43 years in United Methodist pastoral ministry. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary and has served on numerous boards, including Bashor Children’s Home and Associated Churches. He has ministered to residents across senior living communities. He is passionate about ensuring quality, compassionate care for seniors and values the opportunity to help shape the future of UMMH. He especially appreciates the organization’s strong leadership, mission-driven focus, and commitment to excellence.
A graduate of Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Indianapolis and with a Bachelor of Science in Education from IUPUI Marcelline has more than 40 years of experience in the nursing field. She retired as Director of Quality and Regulatory Compliance from Bluffton Regional Medical Center. She volunteers at the hospital and serves as a community representative on the Quality Council Committee. Marcelline and her husband are members of the Bluffton First United Methodist Church. She has served on finance, staff parish and church council and is currently president of the women’s group.
Rev. Glenn Knepp is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church with over 20 years of ministry experience. Since January 2023, he has served as lead pastor of St. Joe UMC, a multi-campus church in Northeast Fort Wayne with close ties to the Fort Wayne Metro YMCA and Heritage Pointe Retirement Communities. He also serves on the Operations Team of the Heartland Methodist Foundation and Heartland Methodist Financial and is a member of the Indiana Conference Committee on Episcopacy. Glenn is passionate about supporting quality senior living and brings that commitment to his role on the Board of Directors for United Methodist Memorial Home (UMMH).
Rev. Tom Ream serves as lead pastor at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne. Throughout his ministry, Tom has focused on spiritual care for older adults, frequently visiting senior living communities across Indiana, and offering chapel services. His role has given him insight into the varying levels of care and the importance of quality senior living.
Tom brings valuable experience to the UMMH Board of Directors, having served nine years on the Board of Trustees for the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church and currently serving as Vice-Chair of its Board of Camps and Conferences. He has long been familiar with UMMH through his pastoral visits to several of its campuses and holds a deep respect for its leadership and commitment to excellence in care.
Dr. Brothers brings over 45 years of experience leading multimillion-dollar research and development programs in both military and commercial sectors, focusing on communication and navigation systems. He holds both a master’s degree and a PhD in business administration, a master’s degree in personnel management, and bachelor’s degree in engineering.
A Boston native, he is deeply involved in community service. His leadership includes roles on the Indiana United Methodist Board of Trustees, PBS-39, the Urban League, the Boy Scouts, and the Rotary. He also served on the board of directors of Compass Park.
Dr. Brothers currently serves on the UMMH board, offering his expertise in support of its mission and values.
Our Foundation
The charitable foundation of Heritage Pointe Communities helps foster financial security for residents and enhance the educational opportunities of team members.
Learn More About Our Foundation
Real Voices. Real Stories.
“We love everything about Heritage Pointe. Maintenance is great, property is great, the people at the main offices are great, the neighbors are great.”
“Coleen and I have enjoyed our Villa for the last 13 and a 1/2 years. The facilities are great, but what stands out is the staff. We couldn’t have chosen a better place to spend our golden years.”
“My grandma has been living in Assisted Living over a year now and absolutely loves it! She raves about how so many aides, nurses, and housekeepers are extremely friendly—even how quality the meals are!”
“My mother has been at Heritage Pointe of Warren for about a year. My mother is receiving great care. They keep me informed, and I greatly appreciate it because I live out of state.”
Choiceful Living. That’s the Pointe.
The choice is yours. We’ve created three distinct retirement communities, each with its own singular, unique appeal, each with a lifestyle all its own.
Our Accreditations
Let’s Connect
Click below to connect with the expert team of Heritage Pointe. We’re always ready to answer any questions and would love to schedule a personalized experience for you at the community of your choice. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Contact Our Team