Nancy Almond Saunders

Heaven just gained a spunky angel. Nancy was born on March 14, 1933, to Jessie and Howard Almond. Our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend passed away quickly from Covid related issues on Thursday, March 3, 2022. She had managed to overcome several health issues in the last few years but her little body couldn't work hard enough to overcome this horrible virus.

Nancy graduated from E.C. Glass High School participating in many social activities and sports, including basketball. She married her high school sweetheart, Bob Maddox, on March 16, 1952. Together they had a daughter, Deborah, and a son, Tim. They enjoyed many happy times as a family playing ukulele and singing with the kids at night, time on their houseboat at Leesville Lake and taking family trips to Florida and Virginia Beach. As things go in life, they grew apart after 23 years of marriage. Nancy married Jerry Saunders in 1981 who passed away in 1989.

Nancy was a very social gal who loved nothing more than getting dolled up to go to church, an event or out for a nice dinner. She was always dressed to the nines. In the 1960s she joined the Lynchburg Chapter of the Sweet Adelines. She had found her people! She loved to sing barbershop in a group or in a quartet and to supervise costume design and event production. Our house became a full-on costume and wig shop! She was elected Regional Director "Regent" for the Sweet Adelines and traveled the East coast attending meetings, seminars and singing events. It was her passion.

She had a soft spot for babies and young children whether she knew them or not and for anyone in need. She would give you the shirt off of her back and then some without hesitation. Nancy was a lifelong member of Fairview Christian Church.

Nancy worked in the stock market after high school but later fell in love with the insurance business. She worked at First Colony Life Insurance for many years first as a Manager of New Business and later as the Manager of Policy Holder Services. She held this position until her retirement.

She found many close and lifelong friends at First Colony. One of her favorite activities while at First Colony was being a member of the company's bowling team. She quickly had her own ball, shoes and bag. She became an expert on bowling when talking with her friends and family. We were nervous telling her our scores not to mention actually bowling with her! Nancy loved her trips to Las Vegas and Atlantic City with friends to try her luck on the slot machines. Nancy would frequently visit her daughter and family in Salt Lake City. She loved hanging with them and exploring Utah with her mother on a girls trip, shopping at Nordstrom and having more crab legs than one person should have. Nancy was a gift wrapper extraordinaire creating packages that were too pretty to open.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Howard Almond; her first husband, Bob; and her second husband, Jerry. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Haslam (Dennis) of Salt Lake City, Utah; her son, Tim Maddox (Marti) of Lynchburg, Va.; her grandchildren, Kyle Maddox (Tonya) of Pamplin, Va., Peter Haslam of Salt Lake City, Utah, Carter Haslam (Patty) of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Madeleine Haslam Bell (Ryan) of New York, N.Y.; step-grandchildren, Brian Dudley (Christa) of Pittsburgh, Pa., and David Dudley of Rustburg, Va.; and her great-grandchildren, Aiden Maddox, Leila Maddox, and beautiful new baby girl, Mila Haslam, whom she sadly never got to meet. She is also survived by her brother, Bernard Almond (Betty) of Lynchburg, Va.

The family would like to thank Marlene Blaisdell, R.N. and the aides from Generation Solutions for their loving care over the last couple of years and the staff at Valley View Assisted Living.

A service to celebrate Nancy's life will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.

The family will be available for visitation from 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Fort Hill Memorial Park immediately following the service.