Georgianne Davis Neal, 92, passed away Friday morning at her home. The widow of former Noblesville Ledger owner James T. Neal, Georgianne was an adopted daughter of Hamilton County. She was born in Indianapolis where she attended school until going to Radcliffe College. Following graduation, she joined the staff of the Indianapolis News.
An intelligent, generous, and witty lady, she and Jim Neal were married in the mid-1950s and made their home in Hamilton County until Jim’s retirement in 1986. After several years in Florida, they returned to the Indianapolis area. Their daughters Dede and Andrea, and three grandchildren survive.
Georgianne was involved in numerous community activities and was an avid collector of American Indian art and artifacts. She volunteered at Conner Prairie Pioneer Settlement and served in the Republican Party precinct organization. A major project of Georgianne’s was assembling a collection of Indiana’s pioneer and American Indian portraits, maps, and drawings, which she displayed for the public at the Ledger Building.
Services on Nov. 4 at Meridian Street Methodist Church, Indianapolis, will be at 1 p.m. with calling an hour before the service, and also an hour after the service at the church. Burial will be in Noblesville’s Crownland Cemetery.
Columnist Fred Swift has worked in newspapers for decades. He has been sharing his opinions in the pages of The Reporter since it began. Email him at swiftfred19@gmail.com.