Nancy Ann (Wittenbraker) Wathen

Nancy Ann (Wittenbraker) Wathen, 81, of Newburgh, Indiana, passed away April 14, 2016. She was born November 7, 1934, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, to the late Mary (Ritzel) and Carl Wittenbraker.

She was the second of four children. At about half of the year the ages of the children in her family were consecutive. She was Baptized at St. Johns’ Evangelical Church and Confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church, both in Evansville. She also taught Sunday School at Peace for many years.

Nancy graduated from Bosse High School in 1952. After high school she was employed by Interstate Green and Green Insurance Co. over time she worked in several other offices in the area. She worked for a small eastside weekly newspaper, an attorney, and at another time for the Newburgh Veterinary Clinic. She also typed her brother, John’s, college papers.

She married James Wathen on November 8, 1969. They lived and farmed on land just north of the Alcoa Plant. While helping on the farm, she became adept at operating much of the farm machinery and the big trucks. She was also significant help in raising Jim’s two sons, Elvis and Wayne.

Jim died April 11, 1987. She cared for him during his stressful illness. Sometime after Jim’s death, Nancy suffered the first of two serious cancer surgeries. She recovered from both and moved into an apartment on Cypress Street in Newburgh. She devoted much of her time helping to care for her grandson, Brandon, and his family. She adored Brandon and his wife, Tajee, and their four children. She always had a picture or more to share. Her great grandchildren adored their Nana.

Recently, she had suffered breathing and heart difficulties that caused her to be hospitalized periodically. She continued to stay as active as she could. She turned her considerable skills into baking her designed, one of a kind, cakes, and to her individually created greeting cards. John got a personal birthday cake delivered to his office each year. Two favorites for him and his staff were a unique pumpkin cake and a really scary Black Widow Spider cake. Many friends and other she met were the recipients of her unique and beautiful cards.

Nancy lived through some difficult times, but always worked through them. When her brother, John, came from the hospital into her apartment on Tuesday, she pointed to the model of a greeting card on the table that she hoped to complete for one of the grandkids. She had high expectations for family, friends and others, but was always deeply interested and involved in the social friendships that she established in all of her interactions.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Mary Wittenbraker; her husband, James Wathen; and brother, Thomas Carl Wittenbraker.

Nancy is survived by brothers, John Wittenbraker (Carol) and Robert Wittenbraker (Jane); sister-in-law, Pat Wittenbraker; stepsons, Elvis (Karen) and Wayne Wathen; grandson, Brandon (Tajee) and children, Jasmine, Aden, James and Brady; grandson, Bryan Fodge (Keli) and children, Kayleigh, Logan, Connor, Emaleigh,; Granddaughter, Katelyn; nieces and nephews, John, Jr., Paul, Elaine (Gabriel) (John and Carol), Marla, Carla (Tom and Pat), and Michael, Janet Gayle, Cindy, Terry, and Jim (Robert and Jane).

Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM, Monday, April 18, 2016, at Alexander Newburgh Chapel officiated by Rev. Dr. Thomas Wenig with burial at Park Lawn Cemetery. Friends may visit Sunday, 1-4 PM and Monday, 9:00 AM until service time at the funeral home.