2026
Jimmy “Jim” Draper, 86, of Flora passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Franciscan Hospital in Lafayette, after struggling with illness for several months. Jim was born on October 22, 1939, in Pittsburg, Indiana, to the late Lloyd and Beulah (Kirkpatrick) Draper. His wife, Linda (Lucas) survives. Jim graduated from Flora High School in 1957 and was a member of the Honors Society.
Jim was a quiet, kind, and hardworking man. He spent his early years as a proud member of the Flora Skating Rink Club and playing recreational basketball and softball. Jim also had a love for cars and motorcycles. He enjoyed playing cards, particularly participating in euchre tournaments. Jim (and his wife, Linda) also sponsored many softball charity games to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. In his later years, Jim enjoyed playing golf and dart ball with his church league. He was also an assistant coach for the Carroll Boy’s Golf Team. In fact, he helped lead them to the Hoosier Heartland Conference three times. If you ask his wife, Linda, she will tell you exactly how much he loved sports just by the number of sports channels on their TV (if he wasn’t watching a sport, he was watching a good western or maybe an episode of CSI). But no doubt, he was an avid Purdue and Cubs fan.
Jim’s strong work ethic started when in high school, working for Thompson’s Rexall Pharmacy in Flora. He then worked for Globe Valve in Delphi for a few years before heading on to his long-term career at Alcoa for nearly 35 years. For short period of time, he also worked for Ayres’s Hardware delivering salt. After Jim retired from Alcoa in 1999, he worked part-time at Swifty’s gas station in Delphi, where he enjoyed visiting with the customers as he pumped their gas.
Jim’s greatest joy was his family. Though he grieved the loss of his daughter, Jamie, Jim continued to nurture his family with compassion and strength. Jim (and Linda) adopted and raised their granddaughter, Lindsay, after their daughter Jamie’s death – what a blessing for them all. Jim loved his seven children, two stepchildren, adopted daughter (granddaughter, Lindsay) many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren! And if you ask him, he could probably tell you most of their birthdays (he always had an amazing knack for remembering dates).
Jim was a member of Valley View Baptist Church in Flora.
Jim is survived by his wife Linda; his children, Rita (Ted) Lucas of Flora, Sonia (Jan) Criswell of Delphi, Juanita “Carol” (Brad) Fisher of Delphi, Timothy (Angie) Draper of Lafayette, Curtis (Valerie) Draper of Delphi, Candy Draper of Flora, Lindsay (Nathan) Meyer of Flora, Steven Joseph of Lafayette, and Billie (Carl) Wolf of Quinter, Kansas; siblings, Charles “Ron” Draper (Kathy) of Flora, Renita (Ron) Carman of Cutler, Pat (Gary) Yeakley of Logansport. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Beulah Draper, brothers, Rick Draper and Jack Draper, and daughter, Jamie Draper.
Jim will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Jim’s last act of kindness was being a tissue donor.
Services for Jimmy Draper will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Valley View Baptist Church in Flora. Visitation will be from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. with service to follow.
Wheeler Family Funeral Home is honored to serve the Draper Family.
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