Nancy Ann Hughes Abbey

Born in Bangor, Pennsylvania in the state’s Slate Belt, Abbey was the daughter of Robert Ivar Hughes and Winnifred Amy Hughes, with four brothers and sisters – Bob, Janet, Kay, and Jim. She grew up in the golden age of small-town life, graduating from Bangor High where she was the head cheerleader and the May Queen and was elected most popular and most likely to succeed.

Abbey was a graduate of Bloomsburg State Teachers College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. After a year of teaching, she returned to graduate school at the Pennsylvania State University in State College where she met Charles William Abbey (Bill, deceased). The two were married in Bangor a year later and nearly immediately entered active military service, transferring to Fulda, Germany after flight school. Abbey later earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan.

Bill and Nancy lived in Europe for five years over two tours, traveled extensively, and lived on Army posts in the US as far flung as the shores of Lake Superior, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Sonoran Desert. They moved more than a dozen times over two decades, before retiring from the Army, entering the civilian workforce, and moving to North Carolina. In Clemmons, they lived for the next 40 years in the only home they ever owned, and Abbey presided over many a festive family celebration. Abbey operated a private tutoring service for many years, and she and Bill volunteered frequently for such organizations as Meals on Wheels.

Surviving are daughter Donna Dunn (Terry Mitchell) and son Marc Abbey (Kristen Abbey), and four grandchildren, Jacob Dunn (Karolina Ignaczak), Isaac Dunn (Malgie Leszczuk), Owen Abbey and Thomas Abbey. Also surviving are sisters Janet Arndt, Kay Sheckler (Paul Sheckler), and James Hughes (Sue Hughes).

Her ashes will be interred at the Salisbury National Veteran’s Cemetery where her husband Bill rests. The family will have a small private service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Macular Degeneration Association.