HEATHSVILLE—Nancy Eleanor Brown (née Zielgler) died on August 22, 2025.
She was born on February 3, 1950, in Mineola, N.Y., to Warren and Eleanor Ziegler, who preceded her in death. A beloved and unexpected blessing, she joined siblings Don and Diane. The family later settled in Flemington, N.J., where Nancy spent much of her childhood outdoors avoiding chores—although she still learned to garden, preserve food and care for chickens. A devoted 4-Her, she became an excellent seamstress and her Grand Champion Hampshire lamb was purchased by Lipton Tea, funding her first sewing machine.
Nancy graduated from Albright College with a degree in home economics. She married Carl Bauer and they were blessed with a son, Christopher (Michelle). Their early years included living in Hawaii and raising a toddler on a sailboat in Norfolk.
Nancy began a civilian career with the Air Force, moving to Northern Virginia for a promotion at Bolling Air Force Base. She later served at the Pentagon during the September 11 attack, calmly helping others evacuate. Retiring as a strategic diversity integration policy analyst, she contributed to Wounded Warrior and Yellow Ribbon initiatives and helped re-establish the Pentagon Chapter of Federally Employed Women, expanding mentoring and training opportunities for women.
In 1985 she married Gene Brown, gaining three children, Terri (Jay), Mike (Dale) and Phil. With patience and faith, they built a blended family that grew to include grandchildren AnneMarie (James), Patrick (Cora), Caroline, August, William, Luke and Sam; and great-grandchildren Valencia, Maddy, Sadie and one on the way.
Though she was later preceded in death by her beloved son Mike, her legacy of love continues through her surviving children Terri, Christopher and Phil, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Along the way, Nancy earned a master’s in public administration from George Mason University and shared her gifts through Crown Ministries, Focus on the Family, Bible studies and teaching sewing to her granddaughters and their friends.
After retiring to Heathsville, Nancy became an active member of Bethany Baptist Church, the Northumberland County Lion’s Club and the Garden Club of the Northern Neck, and enjoyed traveling with Gene to Italy, Israel, Germany and Alaska. She was a natural connector who delighted in others’ God-given gifts, and she left the world brighter through her mentoring, faith and joy.
Nancy’s Celebration of Life will be held at Bethany Baptist Church in Callao at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 20. A dinner reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made In Memory of Nancy Brown to Bethany Baptist Church, Callao, VA; the Northumberland County Lions Club, or the Garden Club of the Northern Neck Virginia Annual Fund c/o Emily Wilkinson, treasurer.
Welch Funeral Home of Warsaw handled the arrangements.
