Nancy Parrigin

On October 19, 2017 Nancy Chamberlin Parrigin, truly one of the "Greatest Generation", stepped peacefully into the presence of our Lord.

Nancy was born on March 26, 1922 to Burr and Nellie Chamberlin. She was raised in New York City and Bronxville, New York. At Bronxville High School, Nancy earned numerous letters for her athletic achievements, and she continued playing tennis and golf well into her seventies and eighties. She was also an avid sports fan, particularly of golf, pro football, baseball, and the Olympics. At the age of 93, Nancy hosted an NFL draft party at Kingwood Country Club; she knew all the players available in the draft and the order in which they were likely to be picked. (For the record, she was not happy with the Texans' pick!)

After high school Nancy attended Katharine Gibbs in NYC, then found work in advertising and banking. After learning of the Bataan Death March, she determined to do something to support the war effort and applied for a job in Washington, DC. After a six-month wait she received a telegram telling her to report to Washington in 48 hours. There, Nancy received training in encryption and was then sent overseas, one of only 800 women with the Office of Strategic Services (now the CIA) to be posted abroad during World War II. At the age of 23 Nancy was assigned to posts in Algiers, then Cairo, and lastly Vienna. While overseas Nancy met Lt. Lyman Parrigin (from whom she is no longer separated, thanks be to God). Nancy and Lyman wed in New York City in 1947. Lyman's career with Exxon took them to New Jersey, England, Belgium, and back to the U.S., where they lived in New Canaan, Connecticut until retiring in Kingwood, Texas.

Although, or perhaps because, Nancy lost both her parents at an early age, no matter where she lived, she volunteered her time and efforts to serve her country and to help those less fortunate.

Nancy's keen intellect, sense of humor, friendship, loyalty and love of country distinguished her life. Even when she was ill, during her last few months, she was still thinking of others and enjoying life.

By her friends, and especially by her family, Nancy will be greatly missed this side of eternity. She is survived by her four children, Lyman Parrigin III, Susan Akitt, Sally Hilton (Jim), and Stacy Roney (John), and her three granddaughters: Amy Snow Hilton, Sarah Chamberlin Hilton, and Gracie Parrigin Hilton. Nancy is also survived by nieces Robin Kurtzner, Nan Carroll (John), and Patricia Phelps; nephews Christopher Kirk and Jerry Phelps; and "as-her-own" Jim Brown and Dave Guerin.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project woundedwarriorproject.org.