Irene "Nanny" Frances Nitz

Irene Frances Nitz was born in Kimball, WVA to Charles Andrew Garay and Bertha Marie (Harmon) Garay on January 28, 1933. She was raised in the mountains of the Virginia / West Virginia coal mining corridor. She was born into a musical family; her father played the violin and two of her brothers were accomplished bluegrass musicians. Irene learned to strum the guitar as a little girl and would sing on the local radio station. Callers would request “That little girl who sings Shut In’s Prayer.” At age six Irene lost her mother who died from complications of childbirth. The Garay family eventually settled in the coal mining village of Amonte, in Tazewell County, Virginia. She graduated with honors from Tazewell High School in 1950. She started attending the Church of God, located in Dunford Town, a small village a few miles from her home. It was there she met her future husband, Bob. They both became devoted Christ followers. Their strong Christian faith would be the defining foundation of their marriage and family.

Bob and Irene were married on February 7, 1951. In 1953 they moved from the mountains of Virginia to Washington, DC and except for a brief stint in Tennessee, the area would remain their home. From 1956 until 1968 Bob and Irene both worked for Fred C. Trump (late father of President Donald J. Trump) at the Gregory Estates Apartments in Seat Pleasant, MD. Bob served as property superintendent and Irene as bookkeeper. In1968, they moved to Springfield, VA and started B&B Floor company, which remains as a thriving family business.

Bob and Irene (who affectionally became known as Pappy and Nanny) both were heavily involved in their local churches and gospel music. They both sang with the National Quartet before starting a family singing group known as the Singing Nitz Family. From the early 1960’s until 1980 the group travelled up and down the eastern seaboard singing in local churches and auditoriums. They recorded six albums.

Irene was a gifted woman with many talents. Her artistic handwriting always caught the attention of anyone who saw it. Her business sense and optimistic outlook on life raised the level of anything she was involved in. She went from being a barefoot girl in a coal mining village to a vibrant, lovely successful woman. Always a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she put her family first. She never met a stranger, and she made life better for those around her.

After the lengthy bout with bone cancer, Bob passed away in 2003. Irene continued to manage the family flooring business until her health became an issue. Dementia began robbing her of her quality of life. She would often pass the time singing the old songs from her childhood days and family singing group repertoire. She maintained her silky-smooth singing voice until the final year or so of her life. Irene was the consummate survivor. She overcame the ashes of poverty and lived a life full of Christian love and was careful to express gratitude for everything she had. She was known for her gift of conversation, her incredible work ethic, her stellar fashion sense (always dressed in her best), and her loving and generous heart.

Irene is preceded in death by her husband Robert Earl Nitz Sr, her father Charles Andrew Garay, her mother Bertha Marie Garay, stepmother Muriel Garay, siblings William Andrew Garay, John Arthur Garay, Thomas Charles Garay, Mary Elizabeth Garay (passed as an infant), Jimmy Julius Garay, Jaunita Maye Garay (passed at birth), Steve Lewis Garay, Dorthy Marie Garay (passed at birth) and half-siblings Faye Anna Garay, James David Garay, Ruth Murial Garay, and son-in-law Vernon Mathena.

She is survived by her three children: Robert Earl Nitz Jr (Marilyn), Cathren Lavonne Mathena, and Rev. David Charles Nitz (Amy). She has eleven grandchildren: Dean, Dwayne, Traci, Baillie, Max, Morgan, Shayne, Bryan, Michael, James, Phillip: twelve great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.

“She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future. She speaks with a gentle wisdom. She is always busy and looks after her family’s needs. Her children show their appreciation, and her husband praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28 NLT