Nelson N. Harper

Nelson N. Harper, 94, died September 6 at home at the Forum at Knightsbridge, Columbus. He was born March 14, 1920 in Little Rock AR, to Nelson N. Harper Sr. and Louise Hanna (Sheridan) Harper. Nelson grew up in Lakewood OH, graduating from Lakewood High School. During World War II, he was a Marine Corps Captain flying Corsairs in the Pacific theater. He returned to Ohio State University after the war and earned a Master in Music Education. He was Director of Choral Music at the University of Dayton 1947-53, Supervisor of Music for the Cleveland Archdiocese 1953-55 and worked for Ginn and Company textbooks 1955-1969. He became Director of Education for the Catholic Conference of Ohio in 1970 and later became Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, retiring in 1985.
He directed the Lakewood Civic Chorus in the mid 1950s and later sang in the Columbus Symphony Chorus and the St. Christopher and St. Peter parish choirs. He was a volunteer in the Physical Therapy department at St. Ann’s Hospital and a volunteer reader for the Radio Reading Service for the blind. He and his wife Donna were among the founders of the Columbus chapter of P-FLAG. The Human Rights Campaign named Nelson Father of the Year in 2011. He was devoted to acceptance and justice for all, and had a generous and kind heart.
Nelson especially loved being on the water in his boat “Harper’s Folly”, with family at Elk Lake, Michigan and on central Ohio lakes where many friends enjoyed his boating hospitality. During his years in Lawrence KS he had a pontoon boat on Perry Lake and continued sharing his love of the water.
Nelson was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Mary Louise Harper Harrigan; his wife of 51 years, Donna (Allison) Harper, his son Thomas Harper and his daughter Cathy Harper (Pam Glendinning). He is survived by his wife Mary(Hummert), daughter Donice Wooster (Burdette Green) and son Nelson O. Harper (Nolan Long) all of Columbus, his grandsons Rev. Matthew (Betsy) Wooster of Wellesley MA and their sons James and Sam, David Wooster (Audrey Larrimer) of Athens OH and their children Abe and Phoebe, and James (Francie) Wooster of Columbus. He is also survived by the children of his wife Mary; Vicki Davis of New Haven CT, Karen (Hal) Brooks, Beth (Randy) Callstrom and Tom (Susan) Knebel, all of the Kansas City area, and their children. He had many dear friends throughout his life, in particular Joe Gibboney.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, September 17 from 5-8 pm at Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Rd. in Upper Arlington. There will be a funeral Mass at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 18 at St. Timothy Church, 1088 Thomas Lane, Columbus OH 43221, Most Reverend Robert Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg officiating.
Donations in memory of Nelson N. Harper may be made to the Human Rights Campaign, www.hrc.org or to a charity of your choice.