COLUMBUS
Nancy Jane Warren, 95, of Columbus, passed from this life at 7:53 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Keepsake Village of Columbus.
Nancy was born October 2, 1928, in Nashville, Indiana, the daughter of Warren E. and Pearl R. Chafin Moore.
Following High-School graduation, Nancy enrolled in the Nurses Training program at St. Vincent’s in Indianapolis. She later married her high school sweetheart, Joseph (Bud) Meadows. They had one child, born just prior to Bud’s death in 1952.
She married Bruce Warren in 1979, and a few years later purchased a Cessna 310. With her husband’s encouragement, Nancy enrolled in the Cessna Ground School and soon began flight training. She was preparing for her first long solo cross-country flight when Bruce became very ill and quickly succumbed to cancer. Bruce died in 1984, leaving to her an apartment complex of 16 units. She had no experience in rental management, but “dived in”, and ran it successfully for 25 years.
Nancy earned her Private Pilot Certificate in 1985. She earned her Instrument Rating in 1988, and the Commercial certificate and Multi-engine/Multi-instrument rating in 1990. Nancy owned a Cessna Cardinal 177 having logged over 2000 hours in her Cardinal, the Beech Baron 55, DC-3, Beech 18, and Citabria 7ECA.
Nancy’s life journey through the years held many challenges, but as she would say, “there were also many opportunities for learning”. One of those challenges was flying right seat in the DC-3 during aid missions in Africa. Many of those challenges were recounted in her books, including “Wings of My Own”, published in 2008.
Nancy served on the Indiana Chapter of Ninety-Nines as Chapter Chairman, on various committees and the Chapter Secretary. On January 11, 2000, she was appointed to the Columbus Board of Aviation Commissioners the first woman to be appointed in the thirty year history of the board. In 2001 she was selected as one of Indiana’s Trailblazing Women.
Nancy would tell you that she has truly been blessed by God and by caring people throughout her life journey.
A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Blackerby’s Hangar 5 Restaurant.
In keeping with Nancy’s wishes, cremation was planned.
Arrangements by Barkes, Weaver &Glick Funeral Home.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared at barkesweaverglick.com
