Nina Wilson VandeWater

It is with sadness that we share the passing of Nina Wilson VandeWater, loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend, on December 6, 2025, at the age of 77. Nina was dear to those who knew her and will be remembered fondly by the many lives she touched.

Nina was born in Columbus, Ohio, and learned assertiveness early on as she experienced the joys and challenges of having three brothers. She grew up in Bay Village, Ohio, watched the fireworks over Lake Erie, and attended Ohio State University.

In summer of 1966, Nina accompanied a friend to Staunton, Virginia and met Bill VandeWater, a handsome sophomore at Duke. Sparks instantly flew. Over the next two weeks, they bonded over past experiences and future dreams. Bill held her hand on the golf course on the last day of her visit and didn't stop holding it for the next 60 years.

Their love grew. They were married in August 1968 and set roots in Oklahoma where Bill attended Officer Candidate School. After the Vietnam War, they both completed undergraduate degrees at the University of Virginia, Nina's in education. Bill's job with Firestone led the two Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where Nina taught at a business school, and they decided to start a family. They were blessed with two boys, David and Grant, and formed a close extended family unit; whether it was lake vacations in Oscoda with brothers Steve and Bruce, or trips to New York City and San Francisco to see brother Michael. She was a proud and supportive mother, and when David and Grant gave her the gift of grandchildren, she seized every opportunity to show affection and impart life lessons to her two treasured granddaughters.

Upon Nina and Bill's retirement, they put their newfound free time to good use and explored the world. Maui, a Viking cruise through Europe, and a train through Canada were among their favorite memories. They maintain the fireworks in Quebec were for their fortieth anniversary; not the city's 400th birthday.

Nina epitomized strength, equality and intellectual curiosity, long before it was fashionable for women to do so. Her love of learning led her to a master's in library science from Kent State later in life. She devoted the next two decades to her community as a librarian. After her retirement, she earned an armchair professorship in genealogy, and took joy in discovering notable distant relatives, from Robert the Bruce to Barack Obama.

During her later years, she experienced increasing pain due to Crohn's Disease but was determined to not let this pain define her. She was a fervent "political junkie," and many meals were spent debating the latest world news; her side always advocating for what was just and kind. Last, but not least, in her diverse interests was a love of music. She created her own soundtrack through every phase of life and was a self-proclaimed superfan of Aretha Franklin, U2, Coldplay, Prince, and, finally, the Bee Gees.

She is survived by her husband, Bill, her children, David (Lindsey) and Grant (Ginger), grandchildren Quinn and Harlyn, brothers Steve (Patti) and Bruce (Cheryl) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Martha Wilson, and her brother Michael and his partner Sean.

A celebration of life will be held on January 24, 2026 in Cool Springs, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.