Nancy Jane (Bulger) Van Drie

Nancy passed away peacefully on March 22, 2026     at Mountain Valley Hospice House in Dobson, North Carolina, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Nancy was born in Glens Falls, NY on May 22, 1954. Raised in Lake Luzerne NY, she graduated from Hadley-Luzerne Central school in 1972. She shared her birthday with her late paternal grandmother. Parents are Joseph Bulger and Edna (Franz)Bulger (both deceased). She is survived by her husband of nearly 20 years, Kurt Van Drie, sister Kathy Eby, son Warren Wachholder (Lori), daughter Wendy Michalek and grandson Nicholas Teeter (Tyler), granddaughters Jayden and Finnley Michalak, stepsons Jeff Van Drie, Paul (Ashley) Van Drie, Alex Van Drie and Christian Van Drie, niece Kitty Whaley (Kylen) and great niece Katerina Fricke.

First and foremost – Nancy loved the Lord. Her next great love was her family. She especially enjoyed times when they could all get together and share stories and good food. Additionally, Nancy loved to hike, camp and canoe or kayak. She worked on numerous craft projects, always working on one project or another at home and was quite suited as an illustrator. She illustrated a children’s Christmas book (not published) that she read at several churches for their young people’s Christmas lessons. After her diagnosis, she supported the Lung Cancer Initiative organization and the White Ribbon Project which support lung cancer research and awareness – through encouraging lunch cancer testing.

She was a member of the Mount Airy Wesleyan Church, Mt. Airy, NC and humbly served God in many capacities whether through her current or previous churches and other organizations especially focusing on the disadvantaged, primarily the homeless. Along with her husband, she aimed to bring the Gospel to those who did not attend church. In her ‘retirement’ years, she volunteered with the Nassau County (Florida) Coalition for the Homeless as their secretary. Also, while living in northern Florida, she volunteered with the Salvation Army in Fernandina Beach and was the field coordinator for the Army’s Bell Ringing Campaign in Fernandina Beach in 2014. She noticed a need in her neighborhood and began a ministry to feed the hungry each Sunday by providing a meal followed by a church service.

She hosted this inside her Antique Business in Yulee, Florida. This she referred to as the “Grub and the Gospel”. After she and her husband relocated to Mt. Airy, NC in 2017, she was instrumental in establishing a “Drop-In Center for the Homeless” with the cooperation of the Shepherd’s

House. She additionally was an early force in the starting up of a “Warming Station” that provided a place for the homeless to come get shelter when the weather got dangerously cold. Unfortunately, her battle with cancer took more and more of her time and energy, which stymied her efforts frustrating her very much.

Nancy will undoubtedly be remembered most for her rallying cry of faith and belief during her fight with cancer. From day one, she told anyone and everyone who would listen that “God’s Got it!” She believed and lived this and if you were around her for even a short time, you came away knowing it was true. “God’s got it” even more now that she’s passed into heaven. She would desire us all to carry on in spreading the Gospel through love and compassion, just as she aspired to do.

There will be a Memorial Service celebrating the life of Nancy Van Drie June 13, 2026 at 3:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Mt. Airy Wesleyan Church, 2063 S. Main St., Mt. Airy, NC 27030.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Lung Cancer Initiative, see their website or mail check in memory of Nancy to: Lung Cancer Initiative, 5171 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 401 Raleigh, NC 27612

White Ribbon Project, https://www.cognitoforms.com/TheWhiteRibbonProject1/Donate

Mountain Valley Hospice, PO Box 325, Dobson, NC 27017

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