The Reverend Nancy Lindley Flood

The Rev. Nancy Lindley Flood, 90, of Chicago and Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026, at Franciscan hospice after a brief illness.

Nancy was born on May 6, 1936, the daughter of Chief Bosun's Mate Thomas Earl Lindley, USN, and Loretta (Jeske) Lindley. She attended Chicago schools until age 14, at which time the family moved to the town of Wauconda in Lake County. She graduated from Wauconda H.S. Class of '53 and then worked for a time in the banking industry. In 1955 she married John "Jack" Molt Jr, an account manager for Kraft foods. This union produced two sons, John (b. 1956) and Thomas (b. 1957). In the late 1950s the family relocated to Indianapolis, where Jack founded an arborist firm, JM Tree Service. For a number of years Nancy worked as office manager for the company.

In the 1970s, feeling the need to further her education, Nancy entered the school of Nursing at IUPUI, achieving her RN in 1977. For the next decade she met the needs of patients at Riley, Humana, and St. Vincent. After remaining single for several years, on May 9, 1981, she married Dr. Royce E. Flood, professor of communication studies at Butler. Accepting her new opportunities, she attended Butler, graduating with a BA in religious studies. Desiring to increase her ability to serve others, she enrolled in Christian Theological Seminary, graduating in 1992 with a Master of Divinity. She was ordained elder in the South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1995.

Nancy's ministerial career focused on hospital chaplaincy. Accredited by the College of Chaplains, she spent seventeen years as a member of the Pastoral Care Department of St. Vincent Hospital. She accepted positions in the most difficult of units, including ER and ICU. As the AIDS epidemic reached its height, she volunteered as chaplain in the new HIV unit. She continued to offer solace to the ill and bereaved through her retirement in 2005.

Nancy enjoyed vocal music. In high school she was a member of Wauconda's award-winning women's octet. As an adult she was a member of the chancel choirs at Carmel, Meridian Street, and North United Methodist Churches.

Nancy and Royce loved to travel. In addition to annual trips to Empire Grove Campground in Maine, they toured extensively in the American Southwest and Southeast, drove the length of Nova Scotia, enjoyed trail ride in Yellowstone, and cruised the inside passage to Alaska. Internationally, they were among the first Americans to tour re-opened China, went with a Butler study group to France and in 2000 attended the Oberammergau Passion Play and visited several European capital cities. In later years Nancy accompanied a long-time friend on a cruise through the Panama Canal.

Nancy was preceded by her parents and brothers Thomas, William, and Ron. Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Dr. Royce E. Flood of Indianapolis; sons John F. Molt III (Annie Conkin) of Sellersberg, IN, and Thomas F. Molt (Karin) of Bloomington, IN; grandchildren Dr. Bethany L. Richards, DO (Tanner) of Terre Haute, IN, and Maxwell T. Molt (Kristen King) or Bloomington, IN; step-grandson John "JD" Menke of Indianapolis, IN; great granddaughter Edra Richards; numerous relatives in the Chicago area and ministerial colleagues in Maine.

Final arrangements, including cremation, are handled by Flanner Buchanan. There is no viewing or service. A private family gathering of remembrance is planned for the future.