Nancy S. Lumbley

Sometimes, in the course of life, we are fortunate enough to come across people who perpetually and consistently brighten our days. These people have a gift of helping us see the positives in challenging situations, the strength we possess within ourselves, the support we have around us, and the best part of ourselves, even when we can’t see it. Nancy Lumbley was one of those people. She spent her life loving people, guiding youth and helping make the world a better place for everyone.

Shortly after midnight on November 26, Nancy passed away quietly surrounded by those who love her. She left this world a better place and her legacy will be felt for many decades to come. Nancy was born in Warrick County, Indiana, February 22nd 1940 to Lois and Howard Skelton. She was the third of four children. Her older brothers, Tom and Bud and her younger sister, Carole were all very special to her. Nancy loved growing up in the small, southern Indiana town and was active in her school and community. She graduated as the valedictorian of Boonville High School in 1957.

Her love of learning and working with young people led her to Ball State Teacher’s College. While at Ball State, Nancy joined Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and served as an officer and built lifelong friendships. Most notable in her time at Ball State was a blind date set up by one of her friends. She begrudgingly agreed to meet a young teacher for coffee during his break at night school. As it turned out, that coffee date ended up lasting over 61 years as that young teacher was her future husband, William D. Lumbley. Upon graduating from Ball State, with her bachelor’s degree in education in English and social studies, Nancy married Bill at the Irvington United Methodist Church in Indianapolis on June 2, 1961. That fall, Nancy began her teaching career at Christian Park School #82 in Indianapolis. In 1963, their first daughter, Stephanie Lynn Lumbley was born. Eventually, education and a job change would take the young family to Bloomington, Indiana. While in Bloomington, Bill and Nancy welcomed Cynthia Suzanne Lumbley, and William Patrick Lumbley.

Nancy, loved being a mom, staying at home and raising her children. When all of her children reached school age, she returned to the classroom teaching at Bloomington High School South. She enjoyed being back in the classroom and being in the same school with her husband, and at one time, both daughters. After some district reorganization, Nancy was given an opportunity to teach at the Alternative High School. She embraced this non-traditional school setting and loved working with the students and staff, helping them achieve their educational goals. When Alternative High School was closed, she began working at Indiana University as the Assistant Director of the Advanced College Project (ACP) which provided high school students an opportunity to earn college credit for pre-requisite courses taught in their high school (a new idea at the time). She was passionate about growing the program and providing opportunities to as many students as possible in both rural and urban settings. Nancy herself was a lifelong learner, earning her Master’s in Education from Indiana University, and completing all but her dissertation in doctoral work at Indiana University. After several years in ACP, Nancy decided to return to teaching at Bloomington South. She taught English and Humanities, becoming the English department chair until she retired in 2003. In her time working in education, she was a mentor to countless young teachers, a cheerleader for struggling students, and a motivator for all.

Many people will know Nancy Lumbley from her countless hours volunteering and working in her community. From her younger days serving on the Elm Heights PTA, supporting organizations that made others lives better was always a priority of hers. Recently she was recognized by the League of Women Voters as a 50 year member where she served in various officer roles in both Bloomington (IN) and Port St. Lucie (FL). She extended her sisterhood and friendships in Tri Sigma by helping to colonize a chapter at Indiana University, working with other alumnae and collegiate members. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa education honorary and Delta Theta Tau philanthropic sorority; she served on the Bloomington Local Council of Women which advocated for the citizens in the healthcare system in Monroe County (IN) and was a part of the eventual Bloomington Hospital reorganization and relocation. She also served as a guardian ad litem for the Monroe County (IN) court system. A labour of love for her after she retired was the work that she did with the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM) where she served as a mediator for students and families when they faced challenging situations. She would often intervene to help a student stay in school and avoid expulsion or mediate controversial issues going on within the school between groups of students. She also enjoyed training adults and students to become future mediators. The mission of mediation aligned with everything she had spent most of her professional career doing. She was honored by CJAM as their citizen of the year with the Herb Kiesling Award.

After moving to Florida in 2017, Nancy continued her involvement in her new community as a member/officer in various groups including LWV, United Women of Faith, and the Lake Park lifestyle club.

While Nancy was hard-working and dedicated to so many people in her life, there is one person above all else who she was dedicated to– her best friend, her husband, Bill. They were both career educators and a team in everything that they did. Together, they doted on their family. “Dee” (as she was known), was a proud grandmother to seven grandchildren: Jordan Wrye Ross (George Ross), Savannah Wrye (Zach Gerboc), Connor Pearl, Carson Pearl, Claire Pearl, Aden Lumbley, and Quin Lumbley. She loved hosting her grandchildren for sleepovers and holidays, giving love and hugs, taking big family trips, editing countless high school and college term papers and always enjoyed reading with them and spending playtime together. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, who will carry on her legacy in the things that they do in their lives. On St. Patrick’s Day of 2022, Nancy became a great grandmother when Aurora Ross was born. Nancy was able to experience the joy of Aurora’s growth into a precocious toddler who visited with her frequently.

Nancy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bill; her brother, Tom Skelton; her parents Howard and Lois (Kinder) Skelton, She is survived by her three children: Stephanie Lumbley Wrye (Glen), Cindy Lumbley Pearl (Cary) and William Patrick Lumbley; her grandchildren, and one great granddaughter; her siblings: Carole Kroeger and Charles “Bud” Skelton (Joy); many cousins, nieces and nephews and dear friends.

Finally, Nancy was a woman of faith — always thinking of others and how she could serve them; never judging another person and always teaching about understanding, compassion and justice. Not only did she read the words that were in the Bible, she exemplified them by the way she lived her life. A proud member of St Marks United Methodist Church in Bloomington (IN) and later, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Lucie She enjoyed not only the fellowship, but also the lifelong learning and reminders that the church provided her. Nancy Lumbley spent her 83+ years on this earth teaching others. Teaching her students how to write and consider new perspectives; teaching her children, life lessons about work, family and love; teaching her grandchildren about strength, looking for positives in hard situations, unconditional love and service to others; and, teaching all of us the importance of being understanding, working together, mediating differences and showing grace. Nancy Lumbley certainly left a mark in this world and will be remembered, admired and missed by many. We rejoice in her long life and reunion with her soul mate.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff of The Brennity at Tradition and Treasure Coast Hospice for their care and support of our mother over the last few months.

A memorial get together is planned for December 28th in Port St Lucie, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Nancy’s honor to the League of Women Voters, the Community Justice and Mediation Center (Bloomington, IN), Bloomington Indiana Local Council of Women or Treasure Coast Hospice.