Nancy Ann (Tennant) Fowler

Nancy Ann Fowler, 85, of Colonial Courtyard at Bedford, passed away peacefully on December 11th, 2019, at UPMC Altoona after a brief illness.  She was born on February 21, 1934, in Page, WV, a daughter of the late Louise (Smith) Tennant and Homer E. Tennant. She married Dexter J. Fowler on December 23, 1966. Her beloved Dexter passed away on September 9, 2015.  She is survived by a three sister-in-law’s:  Barbara Tennant, Barbara Rinehart, and Delores Brash and husband Jim, one brother-in-law Dorsey Rinehart, of Portsmouth, OH; two nieces: Sharon Brash, of Beckley, WV; and Judy Tennant, of Oak Hill, WV; six nephews:  Ron Rinehart and wife Cheryl of Minford, OH; Mark Tennant and wife Jane of  Myrtle Beach, SC; Tom Tennant and wife Becky of Oak Hill, WV; Paul Mason Tennant, of Boca Raton, FL; and Kenny Brash, of Mt. Hope, WV, and Johnny Brash;  several great nieces and nephews:  Mindy, Brett and wife Ashley, Kyle, Ryan, and Brenton. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jerry Tennant, of Oak Hill, WV, and a niece Marna Edwards.

Nancy grew up in Oak Hill, WV, and was a 1952 Honor Graduate of O.H.H.S/Collins H.S. She participated in many high school activities and clubs, and she was chosen Maid-of-Honor to the May Queen her senior year. Following graduation from high school, Nancy was appointed a princess in the Mt. State Forest Festival in Elkins, WV before entering Alderson Broaddus College in Phillipi, WV, majoring in Elementary Education. At A.B. Nancy was a cheerleader, student assistant to the Dean of Women, a member of the A.B. Touring Choir, and was chosen “Miss Battler” her sophomore year. Nancy withdrew from Alderson Broaddus as an honor student the second semester of her junior year, returned to Oak Hill, and began her career as a teacher in Kingston Elementary on an emergency certification in 1955. She attended summer school at Concord University and earned her B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. On December 23,1966, Nancy and Dexter were married in the United Methodist Church in Oak Hill. The church was beautifully decorated for Christmas with 28 inches of snow outside. After their marriage, Nancy and Dexter moved to Morgantown, WV. Dexter was employed by Capitol Cement Co., and Nancy was hired as a third grade teacher at Central Elementary School where she was a Supervising Teacher for elementary student teachers at WVU, an additional role she greatly enjoyed. Nancy and Dexter especially liked living in Morgantown - home of the Mountaineers. In 1970, Dexter and Nancy moved to Bedford and lived there the rest of their lives. Dexter was employed by New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. and Nancy taught second grade at Snake Spring Elementary in the Bedford Area School District. She was later transferred to Bedford Elementary and taught there until her retirement in 1990.

Nancy was an active member of the Bedford Presbyterian Church and was ordained as an Elder in 1994. She also served on the Christian Education, Nominating, Church Directory Committees and sent cards on behalf of the Deacons. Nancy considered it an honor to be a 45+ year member of the Alpha Beta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an international honorary for outstanding women teachers. She was recording secretary and served as telephone relay chairperson for several years. She was a member of the B.A.E.A. and after her retirement became a member of the P.A.S.R (both local and state). Nancy was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, serving as recording secretary. Nancy was chosen “Woman of the Year” in 2012. She helped with the American Cancer Society’s “Daffodil Days” for many years and was a member of Bedford County Senior Citizens.

Nancy enjoyed traveling to learn to play golf (not successful), collecting bells and Santas, was an avid WVU football and basketball fan, and she loved animals particularly their two beagles “Butch” and “BJ”! Nancy primarily loved children and teaching. Her dream was to have every student work to his or her potential. Nancy made a positive influence, great or small, on the lives of many of the students whom she had taught for 35 years! Nancy’s life was indeed a life well-lived! Nancy will be missed by all who knew her and loved her, and she will miss all of her many friends, young and old relatives, former students and of course Dexter the “love of her life” but the will be reunited - Together Forever! Friends and family would like to thank the staff of Colonial Courtyard and UPMC Altoona for their gracious and caring support during Nancy’s final days.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bedford Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jack Miller officiating. Burial will be private. Friends will be received on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service at the church.  Arrangements by the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home, in Bedford. In lieu of flowers, Nancy requests donations to Bedford Presbyterian Church, PO. Box 7, Bedford, PA 15522 or Bedford County Humane Society, 182 Bohn Road, Bedford, PA 15522. Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.