Nancy Toothman

Celebrating Nancy Toothman's Life
Nancy Ice Toothman was born in 1930, a time before television and many modern comforts, yet she grew up feeling rich-not from material possessions, but from the abundant love and resourcefulness of her family. With eight siblings, a garden, a milking cow, and a mother who crafted dresses out of feed sacks, Nancy's childhood in Mannington, West Virginia, was a story of simplicity and togetherness.
Her mother Bessie's devotion to the Methodist church laid a deep spiritual foundation, one built on kindness and acceptance-a legacy Nancy carried with her all her life. Her father, Dewey, was a gentle, caring man, and his quick wit kept everyone smiling. Faith continued to shape Nancy's journey, especially through Search for God meetings with Larry and dear friends.
Larry's career as an electrical engineer led them to new homes across Pennsylvania, most memorably to Pittsburgh, where Nancy built friendships that lasted a lifetime. Each new city was another chance for Nancy to gather a community around her. A move to Florida brought fresh connections and meaningful bonds.
Later, Nancy returned to her roots at the family farm in Mannington-a home built by her grandfather, which remains a gathering spot filled with love, laughter, and family traditions. She outlived most of her siblings and friends, yet her spirit was undimmed as she continued to find fun and joy in everyday life.
For several years, Nancy was the Mannington correspondent for the local newspaper, the Times West Virginian. She wrote about local elections, city council meetings, and news relevant to the Mannington community. But she especially enjoyed using her creative writing talents to write funny and heartwarming columns for the newspaper.
Nancy was the spark at the heart of every gathering. Often a game of Scrabble or cards would be underway, thanks to her. Her grandkids learned to play (and to love a little healthy competition) from a woman who never let her smile fool anyone: she played to win, but always made sure fun was at the center of it all. For all her small stature, Nancy was larger than life with her wit and compassion.
Her commitment to caring for others extended to her love for the planet. Nancy championed recycling and mindful consumption long before it was popular, and gently led her family toward healthier, organic foods, choosing what was good not just for her loved ones, but for the world.
In her final days, Nancy was surrounded by her children in the family home where she was born and passed, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren visiting or calling, in a house brimming with love. She left this world on September 13, the very same date that Larry, her beloved husband, had departed 41 years before.
To know Nancy was to know joy, resilience, and an unbreakable family bond. As with every human, Nancy had her share of heartbreaks and challenges, but the legacy she leaves is one of laughter, kindness and a special ability to turn ordinary days into something worth celebrating.
Nancy is survived by her children, Cassandra (Mark) Kelly, Denise/Neechie (Douglas) Long, Gregory (Rebecca), Jonathan (Mary Jane), and Lori Riley; and her grandchildren, Jessica Kelly, Carissa (Daniel) Hoffman, Adam (Tiffany) Long, Zachary Long, Kaitlyn Kelly, Emily (Nick) Retter, Anna (Donald) Delaria, Connor Riley, Preston Toothman, and Harrison (Brandi) Toothman; and great-grandchildren, Peyton Hoffman, Elijah Retter, Sadie Long, Paige Hoffman, Calan Retter, Emmitt Retter, Sebastian Long, Wesley Retter, Emma Delaria, and James Delaria; and several nieces and nephews. Nancy is also survived by two sisters, Alma Taff and Lena Jo Bereksazi.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, as well as her parents and six siblings.
Donations may be made in Nancy's honor to:
The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that was established to protect and care for nature by addressing complex environmental challenges.
https://bit.ly/48rqiFa
A Living Tribute, a nonprofit organization that plants trees in national forests to honor or memorialize a loved one.
https://bit.ly/4pwTnoH
A Celebration of Nancy's life will be held in the Spring of 2026. Details will be posted as they are available. The Hutson Funeral Home in Mannington is honored to serve the Toothman Family.