Obituary of Nancy Ann Pritt Atkinson

Nancy Ann Pritt Atkinson, age 82, of the Middleville community near Bridgeport, WV, passed away on June 11, 2024, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, following a sudden illness. Her husband was by her side, holding her hand. Nancy was born on May 30, 1942, in the upstairs bedroom of the family home on Yokum Street in Elkins, WV. She was the third of four children born to the late O. Alton Pritt and Audrey Baldwin Pritt. Nancy was a 1960 graduate of Elkins High School. Using state scholarships for future teachers and working in the local shoe store for 50 cents an hour, she attended WVU where she received her B S Degree in Secondary Education in 1964 and Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1967. While in undergraduate school she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority serving as president of the sorority her senior year. Growing up in Elkins, her older brother, Dick, got her interested in following the Brooklyn Dodgers, resulting in her memorizing the batting averages and playing positions of every starting player. She was heartbroken when the Dodgers moved to LA. Later, she enjoyed golf, tennis, swimming and WVU sports. Nancy began her educational career teaching algebra and geometry at Parkersburg High School in Wood County, WV. Subsequently, she taught or served as guidance counselor in Monongalia, Randolph and Harrison Counties. She ended her career as a guidance counselor at Liberty High School in Clarksburg, WV, retiring in 2001. On the first day of her final semester in undergraduate school at WVU, Nancy met her future husband, Stephen L. Atkinson, (Nancy and Steve often joked that despite being on campus together for over 3 years, they almost missed each other). After a 3-year, long range courtship, mostly on, but sometimes off, Nancy and Steve married on June 10, 1967, at the Elkins Baptist Church. After 7 years of marriage, Nancy and Steve became proud parents on May 17, 1974, when their son, Mark, was born. Nancy began her life in the Church as a preschooler at the Elkins Baptist Church, continuing until her move to Parkersburg. Nancy and Steve joined the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church in 1976. During her 48-year time at the Presbyterian Church, Nancy served as an elder; was on several church committees; helped teach Sunday School, vacation bible school and adult and women's bible studies and participated in the church's Stephen Ministry program. Nancy was a member of the local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an organization for women educators, and served as chaplain for the local chapter of PEO International, an organization whose mission is to support women. As a result of her educational service, church activities and memberships and her sweet and caring nature, Nancy developed numerous friends, acquaintances and admirers. Following retirement, Nancy and Steve enjoyed WVU sporting events and domestic and foreign travel, most notably climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Australia, and a visit to the D-day beaches in France. Less memorable, was a car crash in Fiji (neither Nancy nor Steve was driving). For their 50th wedding anniversary, they cruised the Danube and Rhine rivers in Europe. They also enjoyed spending time with family and friends a few weeks each winter in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, or in Arizona. In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her older brother, Richard L. Pritt; her sister-in-law, Sally Pritt, brothers-in-law, William L. Smith and Wayne L. Atkinson and numerous aunts and uncles. Nancy is survived by her husband of 57 years; her son Mark (Missy) of Charleston, WV; her 3 angels who call her "Nan", grandchildren Audrey, Claire and Aaron Atkinson of Charleston; her older brother, J. Fred Pritt, of Penfield, NY; her younger sister, Linda Smith, of Fredericksburg, Va; a brother-in-law, Michael L. Atkinson, of Ronceverte, WV; Crystal Gracia (Marco) of San Diego, CA, a niece who lived with Nancy and Steve for several months in 1992; and other nieces and nephews. The family requests in lieu of flowers, you consider making a donation in Nancy's name to the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church, One John Calvin Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330 or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford Funeral Home, 215 E Main Street, Bridgeport. Friends will be received in the funeral home on Monday, June 17, 2024 from 2 pm until 4 pm and 6 pm until 8 pm. Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church from 10 am until 11 am. The funeral service will be held in the church at 11am with Reverend Steve Elderbrock officiating. Burial will follow at the Bridgeport Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.