Nancy Lee McBride Nesbitt of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 7:10 p.m. on Monday, June 26, 2017 at Grace Village Health Care from complications from a fall and Alzheimer’s at the age of 79.

She was born on March 4, 1938 in Troy, Ohio to Alice Faye (Brandt) and Robert Foster McBride.  On July 6, 1963 she was married to James Harrison Nesbitt, who survives in Winona Lake.

Nancy was an accomplished piano accompanist, and she won several awards as a student for 12 years in Miami Central High School in Troy, Ohio. She graduated as a nurse from Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.  After working there as a registered nurse she came to Grace College & Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana for more studies.  While in school she worked part time at Murphy Medical Center in Warsaw, Indiana where she met her husband Jim in 1962.

Nancy then went to Sherbrook, Quebec and learned French at Bethel Bible School in their program for missionaries.  In 1963 the Nesbitt’s married and joined the Unevangelized Fields Mission.  The Nesbitts left for France in 1964 as church planters in Amberieu-en-Bugey.  They helped with churches in the Albarine Valley and with youth activity with Tom and Doris Julien, who had obtained the Chateau de St. Albain for the Grace Brethren.  Later the Nesbitt’s moved to Valence, when they started a church with others, meeting in Nancy’s dining room.  From a small Bible study group, the church in Valence has grown immensely…now having two services on Sundays.

The Nesbitt’s returned to Winona Lake in 1981 to serve as Midwest Representative of UFM, and Jim as director of the Modern Language Department at Grace College.  They were called back to Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania to direct UFM from 1991-2000.  As hostess, Nancy served a family of over 300 and had the privilege of visiting many different countries.  From Ireland to the jungles of the Amazon, to South Africa and even to China.

With retirement in 2000, the Nesbitt’s moved back to Winona Lake and were members of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.  She and her husband Jim started the only French Optimist Club outside Quebec or France.  Nancy also returned to nursing and worked at Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw.  She helped Jim survive a heart attack in 2012, but then she developed poor health and Alzheimer’s in 2013.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 54 years, James Nesbitt, Winona Lake; two sons: Patrick (wife Ella) Nesbitt, Finland; Eric (wife Evelyn) Nesbitt, Germany; and her daughter: Caroline (husband Christopher) Brown, New Jersey. Also surviving are six grandchildren; sister: Connie McGhee, Stillman Valley, Ill.; and her brother: Alan McBride, Warsaw. She leaves behind many friends and family here and overseas, but now enjoys her permanent home in Heaven, promised by Jesus. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother.

Her funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 3 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw and officiated by the family. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw. There will be time for visitation an hour prior to the service from 10–11 a.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be directed to Grace College and Seminary, 200 Seminary Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590; or to Crossworld, 10,000 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64155 and would be appreciated by the family.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s Web Site at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com