Nancy “Nan” McCall Keim
Nancy “Nan” McCall Keim, local artist, died November 16, 2014. Born January 2, 1920 in Buffalo, NY, her parents were Dr. John Oppie McCall and Irene Tinker McCall. She attended William and Mary College as well as the Parsons School of Fine Art and the Cavanagh School of Art in New York City. She was one of the first female commercial artists hired by BBD&O Advertising Agency, New York.
On August 31, 1945 she married her high school sweetheart, William O. Keim, who was serving in the Army Air Force. She followed Bill and the 410th Bomb Group from New York to Oklahoma, Mississippi and Florida. While Bill flew 63 missions from his base in England with assignments also in France and Germany, Nan returned to her family in Larchmont, NY for the duration of the war.
After the war she and Bill raised their two sons, Bill Jr. and Peter, in Syosset, Long Island. She worked in the public library system until her retirement. She enjoyed boating and skeet shooting at the Oyster Bay Yacht Club. She wrote the 410th Bomb Group reunion newsletters and helped organize reunion meetings of the surviving airmen and their families.
She moved to Marietta in 1992 when her husband Bill was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In her retirement she pursued her love of art. Living in a condo along the Ohio River brought her much joy and inspired many paintings. She was a charter member of the Riverside Artists Cooperative where she enjoyed success as a watercolor artist. She worked many hours as a founding member of the local chapter of the National Alzheimer’s Association, and served on the board for several years. Nan was also a member of the Society of Arts and Letters. She really enjoyed playing a good game of bridge, which she continued to enjoy while a resident of The Pines for the last four years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Elizabeth “Betsey” Knapp, Helen “Kit” Derbyshire, Patty McCall, brother John Oppie McCall, Jr. and daughter-in-law Sheila Keim.
She is survived by two sons, Bill of Missouri City, TX, and Peter and her daughter-in-law Charlotte of Marietta. She is also remembered by grandchildren Kristen (Bob) McHugh , great-granddaughters Emily and Elyssa, of Missouri City, TX;; Jonathan (Angie), great-granddaughter Addison of St. Augustine Beach, Florida; and Jeffrey (Heather) and great grandson Trevor of Newburyport, Massachusetts. She is also fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews and their children in California, Oregon, Washington, Kansas, and Colorado.
Memorial service will be Saturday, November 22 at the First Congregational Church, Marietta at 1:00 pm. A celebration of Nan’s life will follow at 2:15 pm at The Pines, Glenwood Retirement Village, located on Glendale Road, Marietta. McClure-Schafer-Lankford is assisting with arrangements and messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to the First Congregational Church, 318 Front Street, Marietta, OH 45750.