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Nancy Ts’ien

TS’IEN, Nancy D., 88, of Wheeling, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2013, in Good Shepherd Nursing Home.

Nancy was born March 17, 1924, in Martins Ferry, Ohio, the daughter of the late Frederick and Eleanor (Witten) Delbrugge. A graduate of St. Michael’s School and Triadelphia High School, Nancy attended Bethany and West Liberty colleges. She was awarded a full scholarship to Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C., where she earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Art Education. She would later teach art to CAU students. Her art work was displayed at annual Oglebay Park Art Festivals.

Nancy worked at the Library of Congress in our nation’s capital, in addition to working with the United Nations and the Panamanian Union with the title of “Ambassador of Good Will.” She was a Spanish bilingual-typist. She worked in the Eisenhower White House when the President had a heart attack and was replaced by then Vice-President Richard Nixon as the acting President. Nancy served as temporary staff to Mr. Nixon until President Eisenhower recovered.

She worked as a guide to the Smithsonian Zoo and for the Commissioner of Washington, D.C. She was a fashion model for affluent Washington, D.C. department stores.

Nancy taught in the Catholic School system of Louisville, KY and for the “Head Start” program. She was also a merit badge councilor for the Boy Scouts of America and distinguished herself as a published poet. She devoted her life to the disabled and retarded. She supported monthly and annual public events and excursions for them long before it became popular to allow them to appear in public.

In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by and infant son, Frederick Ts’ien. She is survived by her two sons, George Yi Ts’ien of Cadiz, Ohio and Matthew Ts’ien of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Friends will be received from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff Street, Wheeling. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael Catholic Church, with the Rev. William Matheny as celebrant. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.

Online condolences may be offered the family at www.altmeyer.com.