Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Nancy Edna SPRINGER
Nancy Edna Springer duPont, of Conowingo, MD passed away peacefully at home on June 1, age 94. She was born in Rockland, near Wilmington, Delaware on January 11, 1924 to Willard Springer, Jr. and Edna Martenis Springer.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, R. Jacques T. duPont, also a native of the Wilmington area, and 2 sisters, Elizabeth Springer Mahood and Marietta Springer Patterson.
She graduated from the Tatnall School, having transferred from the Tower Hill School in 1933, her parents preferring the more traditional and conservative educational style espoused by Mrs. Tatnall.
During World War II, Nancy worked at the DuPont Experimental Station, often walking the 2 miles to work. In later life, she did not drive automobiles. On being asked by one of her children why she didn't drive, she replied, "Your father marched his way across Europe, I can walk wherever I need to go." Her husband was a paratrooper with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division and saw action at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, subsequently marching into southern Germany before VE Day and occupation duty in Austria.
Nancy was an avid horsewoman throughout her life, involved in showing, foxhunting, hunt racing, and Pony Club. She only gave up riding in her late '80's after being thrown off the horse at the bottom of a hill. Her indignation at having to walk home up the hill was greater than the ignominy of the landing in the briar bush, which, despite the hazard of thorns, had the benefit of cushioning her fall. After giving up riding herself she took up breeding and raised several Welsh Ponies that performed successfully in the show ring.
Nancy attended motorcycle competitions with her husband around the US and the Isle of Man, and participated in endurance competitions as sidecar rider with Clem Murdaugh and his wife, of West Chester, PA. Sailing trips on the Chesapeake were some of her fondest memories. Nancy was in no way a "shrinking violet," she never hesitated to get dirty when circumstances required.
She was an avid gardener, lived on farms all her life, canned her own food, churned butter, and took care of a wide range of animals – including the rats and guinea pigs for summer vacation that no other school Mom wanted. She was one of the founders and the DC of Brandywine Hounds Pony Club, a lifetime member of Brandywine Hounds, fox hunted with Vicmead, West Chester, Cheshire and in later years followed River Hills Foxhounds. Nancy was a lifetime member of the United States Pony Club, Welsh Pony Society, Old Swedes Foundation, Marine Historical Association of Mystic, CT, and donated to numerous environmental and historic foundations.
Nancy is survived by 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Link to donation form: http://www.oldswedes.org/forms/form_memorialgift.pdf. The memorial service will be private and at the convenience of the family.
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
Return to The Pennocks of Primitive Hall website.
The information in this database may contain errors. If you find any questionable data, or if you have something to add my findings, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "E-MAIL" link above. Thank you!
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 07 July 2020