Nancy Irene Melching

Nancy Irene Melching, 99, passed away on June 29, 2024, at Transitions Life Care Hospice Home in Raleigh, NC. Nancy was born on August 12, 1924, to Samuel Robert and Lois Irene (Foster) Deuber in Baltimore, MD. She grew up in Baltimore in a large family setting where everyone helped each other through the hardships of the Depression. After graduating high school in Baltimore, Nancy married J. Stanley Melching, starting her own family during the challenging times of World War II. She worked long shifts in a war plant manufacturing aircraft piston rings, while Stan served in the Army Air Corps in Texas, training as a pilot. The birth of her first child, daughter Lee Irene, in December 1942 in Baltimore occurred during this time. Not long after, when Stan was injured in a crash during a cross-country training flight, Nancy made the long trip from Baltimore to Texas to be with him. When Stan was medically discharged from the service, the family moved to Rangely, Maine, in 1945, where he could recover in a rustic and wild environment that he grew to love. While living in Rangely, Nancy’s second child, son John Barry, was born in December 1946. After Stan’s recovery, Nancy devoted herself to caring for the family and working numerous jobs to finance his pursuit of BS and MS degrees from the University of Maine, Orono, and then a PhD degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. When his studies were completed, the family moved to Illinois, where Nancy continued to work in various jobs to support the family as Stan began his career as a plant pathologist. After returning to Maryland in 1963, Nancy’s final job as an administrative assistant was with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USARIID) at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD. Nancy retired in 1985 after 22 years of service. Throughout her life, Nancy had the unique ability to adapt to situations, learning and mastering whatever skills were needed to support her family and those around her. Whether working in a war plant, waitressing, managing an office in a scientific institute, or providing a comfortable home for her family, she knew how to get things done, and everyone around her benefited from her efforts. She was loyal and generous to family and friends and could always be counted on when needed. During her own painful experiences, such as losing someone close, especially her beloved Stan, she showed strength, courage, and determination to persevere through it all. That is who she was! In retirement, Nancy enjoyed playing both tennis and golf and was a very competitive member of several local clubs in both Frederick and Maine. She made many lifelong friends and enjoyed the social relationships that golf and tennis brought her. For many years, Nancy and Stan were able to summer at their home in Maine and winter at their place in Bartow, FL, enjoying both golf and tennis with many friends from other states and Canada. Nancy was also an avid reader and enjoyed books from many different genres and authors. Her Nook e-reader was never far from her side! Even in her eighties, she learned to use the computer for email, Facebook, and Skype so she could keep in contact with family and friends. She could often be heard laughing early in the morning over some joke she had received and enjoyed scrolling through the many pictures and posts left by her many friends and relatives on Facebook. Nancy was predeceased by her husband, J. Stanley Melching of Liberty, ME, in 2005; a younger sister, Patricia Sylvester; and a younger brother, Frederick Timothy Deuber, both in 1999. She is survived by a daughter, Lee Irene Melching of Montreal; a son, John Barry Melching, and daughter-in-law Diane Lewis Melching of Apex, NC; a granddaughter, Kathleen Fabiszak, her husband Christopher Fabiszak, great-grandson Dylan Fabiszak, and great-granddaughter Drew Fabiszak, all of Holly Springs, NC; and a granddaughter, Kerri Onthank, her husband Michael Onthank, and great-grandsons Carson and Camden Patel, all of Apex, NC. Nancy is also survived by a special niece, Judith Boschert, and her husband George Boschert of Westminster, MD. Rest in peace, Nancy. You will be remembered and will be in our hearts forever.

Nancy Irene Melching

August 12, 1924 - June 29, 2024