Obituary of Nancy Elizabeth Dean

Nancy Elizabeth McConnell Dean, 93, passed away in the comfort of her home on May 11, 2015 in Herndon, VA. Nancy was born in Abingdon, VA on May 7th, 1922 to Robert Lucas McConnell and Jeffie Louis Nidermaier. Nancy enjoyed growing up in the mountains of Southwestern VA in the small town of Radford, playing with her fun-loving brother "Lukie" and many cousins. She was proud to be the granddaughter of John Preston McConnell, founder of Radford University and loved visiting the college library with her mother and father. The McConnell family believed education and knowledge to be the key to happiness in life so it was no surprise when Nancy decided to be a teacher. She received a Bachelors of Science Degree with a Minor in Art from Radford State Teachers College in 1942. Her love of children brought her to teach 6th and 7th grade History, Social Sciences and Art to the children of Pembroke, VA. Nancy joined the Navy WAVES in June 1944 and became a Cryptanalyst. She was stationed in Washington, D.C. Her job as a Cryptanalyst was to break Japanese Code during World War II. Even when asked later in life, what codes she deciphered, she would smile and say, "I can't tell you that!". While she served in the WAVES, she was set up on a blind date, where she met her soon to be husband, Bob Dean, who was serving in the Marines. They married in June, 1947 and moved to Fairfax County where she enjoyed teaching 5th and 6th grades at Woodlawn in Fairfax until the birth of her son, Robert John Dean, JR, soon to be followed by two girls, Susan Elizabeth and Kathryn Gail. Nancy was in love with anything outdoors. She studied all the plants, trees, flowers, butterflies and birds and could name, paint or draw them beautifully. As her children grew, she helped with the Boy and Girl Scout Troops and joined the Fairfax Garden Club. She won many ribbons and awards for her creative natural use of flowers in arrangements. Her artistic side truly shone when she became interested in ceramics. She taught both flower arranging and pottery, developing her own glazes and clay techniques and shared her ideas in classes for over 20 years. Her love of nature continued into her interest in different kinds of wood and furniture built by hand. Nancy read constantly and quickly found historical antiques and primitives fascinating. She opened a small antique shop called Nancy's Room in 1970 in Leesburg, VA. After a short time on the outskirts of Town, she relocated her shop to Downtown Leesburg, where she became the longest running antique shop of 35 years. She had an uncanny way of finding unusual items at auctions and second hand stores. Her love of anything made in the USA or children-related was obvious in the huge selection of antique toys, civil war books and flags you could find in her shop. Her Front window of the shop prominently displayed a large cigar store Uncle Sam, that shared a space with a feral back alley cat named Sammy. Sammy and Uncle Sam were fixtures of Downtown Leesburg for many years. As Nancy grew older, she downsized to a space in Antique Crossroads of Hagerstown, MD, which still continues to this day. Nancy's last years of life were full of her tending her garden, growing Moonflowers, watching her Bluebirds and enjoying Blueberry pancakes. She was lucky to have two wonderful helpers, Michelle Buller and Debbie Chirite, who became part of the family. Nancy is survived by her son, Robert John Dean, JR and his wife Donna, daughter Susan Dean Canada and her husband, Philip, daughter Kathryn Gail Dean, sister-in-law Delilah Graham McConnell, many cousins, friends and neighbors and her sweet cat of 17 years, Bebe. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Robert John Dean and her wonderful brother, Robert Lucas McConnell, JR and her favorite "shop" cat, Sammy. Her ashes were interred at Sunrise Burial Park in a small private graveside service in Radford, VA. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Loudoun County, helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org. Nancy was known for her wonderfully silly sense of humor, her kindness to all, her knowledge and willingness to share, love of family and her gentle soul. She will be deeply missed.