Nathan Wolf Sabel

Nathan Wolf Sabel,

83, of Indianapolis, passed away October 21, 2022. He was born Terry Joe Harris in Memphis, Tennessee on February 3, 1939 and adopted by the late Mandel and Marie Sabel through the storied Georgia Tann Society. After a lifelong search, he was ultimately able to find his birth parents and learn more about his ancestry.

Nathan graduated from Evansville Bosse High School in the class of 1956. He attended Indiana University and University of Evansville, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering.  He worked at the NASA Alabama Space and Rocket Center located in Huntsville, Alabama. While at NASA, he earned the honorary service award in 1964. He honorably retired in 1995 from the Department of Defense, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in order to spend more time doing the things he loved.

Nathan was a builder and driver of many show cars, race cars, and motorcycles. He has won world drag racing records with the American Hot Rod Association. His awards for show cars are too numerous to mention. He was a member of the San Diego Roadster Club, the Southern California Timing Association, and Bonneville National Inc. He and racing team members of the High Roller Racing Team raced on Bonneville Salt Flats and El Mirage for many years earning his first world record in 1980 and various national records throughout the years. He won San Diego Roadster Club Performance Awards in 1989 and 1990.

Nathan enjoyed hot rods, reading, music of all sorts, running, body building, and watching Formula One racing; but his greatest joy was his daughters and four grandchildren. Nathan supported all endeavors of his daughters. Ann Marie for her music and singing and Lee Ellen for her racing. He also went to as many of his grandchildren’s sporting events as possible.

He is survived by his daughters, Lee Ellen (Darren) Meiss and Ann Marie (David) Freitas; and grandchildren, Savannah, Zane, and Toby Meiss, and Ryan Freitas. Also surviving are Nathan’s close family “just like my own” Tracy Barkley, Patti McGuire, and Hannah Renfroe. He was preceded in death by his former wife Barbara Sabel, and by his long-time companion Carol Doran.

A memorial gathering will be held October 29th from 12 – 3 PM at Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.