Alpha Mae Watson Nance, entered peacefully into eternal rest on October 30, 2014. Born December 2, 1918, in the Moneta community, she was the second of four children from the union of the late Edna Mae Burnette and James Kone Watson. For 64 years she was the loving and respectful wife, of Elisha Ray Nance, until his passing in 2009. In addition to her parents and husband, Alpha was predeceased by her sisters, Martha Louise Leftwich and Jemima Leigh Collins; and by her brother, Linwood Addison Watson.Alpha graduated with high academic honors from Moneta High School in 1936 and with financial assistance from her special aunt Mrs. Teresa B. Anderson, she entered into a three year course of nursing training at Jefferson Hospital in Roanoke. Later as graduation neared, she and most of her nursing school classmates volunteered for service in the war effort by joining the Army Nurse Corp. She was commissioned as an officer in the Army Nurse Corp and served for two years. In 1945 when the outcome of the war was assured, she left military service to marry the love of her life, "Bedford Boy" Company A, Lt. Ray Nance, who had survived the wounds of fierce combat on the D-Day invasion of the northern coast of France. Their marriage was blessed with children and Alpha proceeded to become the best full-time Mom that one can imagine (and in due time as a Grandmother and a Great-Grandmother). She was also an avid gardener, seamstress and genealogist. She was an excellent cook who took great pleasure in preparing food, especially for holiday meal celebrations and for family reunions. She was a great part-time nurse who always maintained a characteristic brisk pace of walking which she dutifully learned in nursing school to enhance her urgent delivery of medical care.Throughout her life, she never lost her enthusiasm for learning and she constantly encouraged that interest among family members. She possessed a wonderful quality of personal humility and was truly respectful of others. She was a natural caregiver and did so very willingly throughout her life. She was a Christian.Alpha was a parishioner of Historic St. Paul's Episcopal in Lynchburg, but in her later years as a resident of the Elks National Home in Bedford, she regularly attended church services there each week. She was a member of the National Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution The Peaks of Otter Chapter, the Blue Ridge Garden Club and the Elks Lodge.Left to mourn the end of her earthly journey are three children, Martha Susan and husband, James Cobb of Front Royal, Sarah Watson and husband, Catesby Jones of Henrico County and John Granville Nance and wife, Mary Ann of Lynchburg; four grandchildren, John Nance, II and wife, Karen of Henrico County, James Cobb of Front Royal, Anne Cobb of Winchester and Eliza Jones of Henrico County; two great granddaughters, Vanessa Van Landingham of New York City and Emma Nance of Henrico County. She also had many special nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.A visitation will be held on Monday, November 3, 2014, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Bedford from 4 to 7 p.m. A graveside service of committal will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at the Oakwood Cemetery in Bedford. The Rev. Catharine W. Montgomery, of Grace Memorial Episcopal in Lynchburg, a very special friend of Alpha and her family will officiate. Immediately following the committal, a reception for family and close friends will be held at the nearby Liberty Station Restaurant located on Bedford Avenue.For those wishing to make a memorial contribution, please consider The National D-Day Memorial Foundation in Bedford.Thanks be to God for sharing Alpha's life in His world!Condolences may be sent online by visiting www.tharpfuneralhome.comArrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, 540-586-3443.
Posted in Obituaries on Sunday, November 2, 2014 12:00 am.