Janet D. Nelson

Janet Draper Nelson, 100, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on May 13, 2026. Janet was born on September 24, 1925, in Livingston, TN to parents Edward Basil and Olive (Brammer) Draper, the second of their three children.

Janet grew up in Tennessee, graduated from Knoxville High School and went on to earn both a BS and MS in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Following graduation, Janet moved to Indianapolis where she spent 15 years working in research at Riley Medical Center. This was followed by 25 years working for Eli Lilly in anti-viral chemotherapy research. Janet was very proud that she never took a sick day during her career with Lilly.

In 1962, Janet married Charles Mason Nelson, and they remained devoted to each other for over 62 years until his passing in 2024. Janet loved to garden, sew, and cook for and entertain friends and family. Janet was also a talented artist and for many years designed the Christmas cards which she and Charles silk-screened in their basement and mailed out to hundreds of lucky recipients. They had season tickets to the symphony and enjoyed traveling to golf tournaments and to visit family.

The most important aspect of Janet’s life was her Christian faith. Janet and Charles were founding members of Eastside Church of Christ, attending the first service there in September of 1974. They continued to attend services there faithfully until their health prohibited it in recent years.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles, her brother and sister-in-law Duane and Betty Draper, and her sisters-in-law Marilyn Draper and Shirley Draper.

Janet is survived by her brother Jack Draper of Knoxville, TN and her nieces and nephews: Ann Draper, Lynn Draper Bradshaw, Jeff Draper, David Draper and Arthur Nelson. She is also survived by several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

The family gives special thanks to caregiver Glenda “Cookie” Feltner, the staff at Westminster Village North Heatherwood, and the staff of Paradigm Hospice.

Janet’s remains will be interred with Charles’ at Round Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, and a private family service will be held at that time.

Memorials to Janet can be made to East Side Church of Christ, P.O. Box 29545, Indianapolis, IN 46229 or to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra https://donate.indianapolissymphony.org.