Nancy Aldrich

1925 - 2018

Nancy A. Aldrich
1925-2018
Nancy A. Aldrich, a resident of The Woodlands, age 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 13, 2018. She was born October 4, 1925, in Taylorville, Illinois to parents Dr. Guy Armstrong and Alice Hicks Armstrong. Nancy was enthusiastically devoted to her family, her vocations and community service. As a high school student, she received national honors as a flute soloist. She received a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with numerous honors including Phi Beta Kappa (and majors in English and Chemistry) from University of Illinois and continued on to receive a Master of Science in Chemistry in 1949.
Nancy planned a career as a chemist but then turned down a job offer in that profession. Instead, she married Paul Aldrich, Ph.D. to start a family in Wilmington DE. While raising 4 children, she served on the boards of many community organizations, including United Way of Delaware, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Mental Health Association, Delaware Gerontological Society, University of Delaware Friends of Performing Arts, among others. Nancy was president of the American Association of University Women from 1968 to 1970. She was appointed to the Delaware State Board of Parole from 1970 to 1973 and became president of the YWCA of New Castle County from 1974 to 1976. From 1978 to 1983, she worked for the University of Delaware, Division of Continuing Education where she was responsible for the development of the UD Academy of Lifelong Learning. That program became nationally acclaimed and an industry model for continuing education programs for retirees.
In 1986, Nancy received a Master of Social Service degree from Bryn Mawr College and began a 25-year career as a licensed clinical social worker in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Texas. She retired at the age of 87, having worked for multiple private and public mental health programs.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Paul. She is survived by sons Greg and his wife Wendy of Leominster, MA, and Mark and his wife Jacquelin of Centerville, OH, and daughters, Alice White and her husband David of Harrah, OK and Lynne Aldrich and her husband Neil Sammis of The Woodlands She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. A memorial service is pending. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made in Nancy's name to The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church, the Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. or Southern Poverty Law Center