Nancy Johnson Young

Nancy Eleanor Johnson Young, age 83, of Troutville went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 29, 2025 surrounded by her family at home.

Nancy taught the Bible to children nearly all her life. Her first job out of college was with Weekday Religious Education in which she shared God’s Word with children in the public schools. She continued to teach with WRE for 55 years. The only thing that stopped her was Covid in 2020 and then cancer in 2021.

She is remembered for her love of birds. She knew them by their song as well as by sight. She amazed us with her knowledge of native trees and flowers. Nancy’s favorite pastime was reading books of all kinds, with a particular love for children’s literature. She enjoyed driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking the Appalachian Trail with her husband George. She is especially remembered by her grandchildren for her very special homemade birthday cakes.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, George, of 52 years and survived by her children, Mary Anne (Mike) Briles, Micah (Stephanie) Young, and Karen (Daniel) Petersen.

She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Eleanor Johnson. Nancy was the eldest of seven children. She is preceded in death by her brother David (Carol) Johnson and sister Edith (Don) Tinder and survived by her sisters Janet Johnson and Mary Valle and her brothers Harry (Ruth) Johnson and Ken (Melli) Johnson.

She was blessed to be called Grandma by her sixteen surviving grandchildren: Ethan, Christiana, Luke, Rebekah, Anna Grace, Nicholas, Richard, Cade, Aidan, Eleanor, Savannah, John, Ezra, Katherine, Liesl, and Jude.

A memorial service to honor Nancy’s life will be held on Monday, December 8th at Rainbow Forest Baptist Church at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to Global Partners in Peace and Development, a wonderful organization serving the needs of many around the world.

Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home Peters Creek Road Chapel. (540)366-0707.