Sally A. Pedersen

On the morning of January 1, 2024, Sally Ann Pedersen of Indianapolis Indiana passed away peacefully at the age of eighty-five (85). Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 27, 2024, with a reception beginning at 10:00am at The Church of the Nativity on Lantern Road in Indianapolis, IN Sally Pedersen was born in Philadelphia, PA, on June 16, 1938, the daughter of Susan L. Wilkinson. Sally was raised in Philadelphia where she participated in many activities growing up. She was an active member of her school band. She was also the manager for the girls’ basketball and tennis teams. She enjoyed jazz and was recognized as everything’s neat. She graduated in 1956 from Springfield Township High School with honors in music. She went onto study nursing at Albert Einstein Medical Center, School of Nursing, where she earned her degree in Nursing in September of 1959. Sally was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves on February 24, 1960. She graduated from the Army Nursing Corp Basic on April 29, 1960. She was assigned to 2nd Field Hospital, USAREUR, Munich, Germany, where her specialty was a Med Surg Nurse. While in Germany, Sally met and married Richard Edwin Pedersen. They decided to start a family and she assumed the duties of a United States Army Officer’s wife. Sally received an Honorable discharge from the United States Army on March 23, 1962. Their two sons, David Eric and Richard Olin were born in Munich. From there, the family was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, where she gave birth to her youngest son, Robert Arne. During their tour to duty at Fort Lewis, Sally’s husband, Richard, was ordered to Vietnam leaving her to raise the three boys while he was gone. After his return, the family moved to the Indianapolis, IN area with an assignment to Fort Benjamin Harrison. It was here that Sally earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. Sally is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society of Nursing. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Ankara, Turkey where her husband was assigned as the Commandant/Budget and Fiscal Officer for the Joint United States Military Mission for Aid to Turkey. While in Turkey, she and Richard traveled the Middle East together including stops in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syra, and throughout Turkey. One of the special trips the whole family took was a tour of the Seven Churches named in the Book of Revelation in the Holy Bible. She often spoke of that tour. The family was then re-assigned back to Fort Benjamin Harrison in the summer of 1975. Sally decided that the boys were old enough, were trained to take care of themselves, and to put her nursing degree back to work. Being a veteran herself, Sally went to work for the Veterans Administration at the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. She served as a Nurse Manager for one of the recovery units. Next, Sally went to work for a Family Medicine Physician office as a Staff Nurse. From there, Sally went to work for the Marion County Health Department as a Nurse Case Manager, a job she had for the rest of her working career. She made a huge difference for her patients and clients over the years. Sally was also an active member of the Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis, IN. She sang in the Church Choir for many years. She served on the vestry of the Church for many years as well. Sally had a big heart and was always opening up her home and family to others. She made a point to always mentor other people. She raised three sons to be strong and self-sufficient. Her dedication to her family, patients, and clients brought credit to herself, her family, and the community at large. She was and is still an inspiration to many. Sally was preceded in death by her husband Colonel (R) Richard Edwin Pedersen and her mother, Susan L. Wilkinson. Sally is survived by her sons David Eric (Joyce), Richard Olin (Alison), and Robert Arne (Michele); grandsons Richard Blake, Charles Graham (Haily), granddaughter Faith Anikka; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of sending flowers, please donate to Sally's favorite charity, Church of the Nativity-Episcopal, 7300 Lantern Road, Indianapolis, IN 46256.