Obituary of Sandra Graper

Sandra Graper, 87, of Danville, IN, (winter resident of Lake Placid, FL), passed away on June 5, 2024.  Sandra was born March 8, 1937, in Corydon, Kentucky to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd and Bernice Gaines.

She is survived by four daughters:  Sara Folmer, Jennifer Clark (Tom), Gwendolyn “Wendy” Graper, and Janis Graper Hassan (Mushtak), five grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Wendell, sister, Lavada, husband, Robert, son, Hans and daughter, Robina.

Sandra met and married Robert Graper, a U.S. Airforce veteran, on November 7,1958, while studying nursing at Evansville College.  She and her husband made headlines as the college’s first married couple to graduate Magna cum Laude.

She began her career as a registered nurse, before welcoming their first child, and was soon after transferred overseas with her husband’s position at Eli Lilly, where he served for 36 years in multiple countries. They would go on to have six children, living in Switzerland, England and Italy before returning to the United States, where Robert worked until retirement. 

Sandra bravely navigated new customs and cultures, creating everlasting memories—with many little children in tow—during a time where the demands of a wife and homemaker were limitless and lacking many conveniences.  

Sandra’s faith in God was of the upmost importance to her.  She sought Him daily and shared His Word and promises with everyone she came across.  She was a member of the Rome Baptist Church, Rome, Italy, and Lakeview Church, Indianapolis, IN, where she was actively involved in their Sunday school class.  She also attended  First Presbyterian Church, Lake Placid, FL, and The Ministry Center, Highlands County, FL,  and was currently attending Crossroads Church in Avon, IN.

Sandra and her husband Robert were avid supporters of mission work, nationally and abroad. Generosity was a principle they lived by on a daily basis.  We will never know all the lives they have touched on this side of heaven.

Sandra was beloved, and her friendship and kindness were a gift to all who knew her. She was an elegant woman, a wonderful cook, a gardener, an adventurer, and lover of the Kentucky Derby. She was a tear wiper, a baby holder, encourager and nurse to family when she was needed.  She was a faithful wife and companion for 62 years, and a tender caregiver to her husband until his passing.  Her stories and wisdom have been priceless to her family down to three generations. She will be forever missed, irreplaceable, the Matriarch of faith and family of the Graper family legacy. 

Services for Sandra will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at Stevens Mortuary, 5520 W. 10^th Street, Indianapolis, IN  46224, with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by the service at 1:00 p.m.  The family will be gathering for a graveside service afterwards.

Memorial Contributions may be made to:

 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,  https://www.stjude.org/

or

https://med.stanford.edu/chronicfatiguesyndrome/donate.html