Nancy Stuart Tonkin

Nancy Stuart Tonkin passed away at her home in Nitro, West Virginia on November 29, 2017. Her parents, John B. and Nancy S. Tonkin, of Clarksburg, West Virginia and brother, John B. Tonkin, preceded her in death. Nancy lived a life deep with purpose, happiness, faith and courage, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Nancy was an active member of Saint Marks Episcopal Church of Saint Albans and enjoyed helping people, gardening, reading, art, cooking and swimming. She had a special gift of bringing people together and hosted many celebrations for family and friends. Nancy was founder and owner of Tonkin Management Group, a government relations and association management firm in Charleston. Prior to establishing her company, Nancy served as Vice President of Charles Ryan Associates, and the West Virginia Hospital Association. Active in professional and volunteer organizations, Nancy served as President of the Children’s Home Society Board of Directors and was named Board Member Emeritus. She also served as President of the West Virginia Society of Association Executives, and was a charter member and served as President of the Capitol City Civitan Club. Additionally, Nancy was a charter member and President of the Vandalia Rotary Club, and helped organize the Summersville Rotary Club. As a board member of the WV Children’s Coalition, Nancy was instrumental in working on a number of issues and initiatives to improve the health and well being of children. Nancy chaired the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free West Virginia, and was passionate about fighting tobacco use among children. She also served on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Charleston, and chaired the public policy committee. In 2016, Nancy was influential in passage of West Virginia’s Oral Anticancer Treatment Access legislation, which removed barriers to life-saving treatment for cancer patients. She received several awards during her career, including the Exemplar Award in Excellence for Social Work Management, and the West Virginia Rural Health Association Award in Excellence In Rural Health. Nancy was a graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor and master’s degree in Social Work, and served as a member of the WVU School of Social Work Visiting Committee. Nancy is survived by Tommy H. Mullins, long-time companion; brother, Loring L. (Tim) Tonkin and his wife, Veronica Malfregeot Tonkin of Clarksburg; niece Holly Ann Tonkin and Amanda Deitz, and children Emma and Chad Deitz of Saint Albans; nephews, Timothy Luke Tonkin and daughter, Abigail Tonkin, of Factoryville, Pennsylvania, and John “Jeb” Tonkin and wife Abby of Weston; and step-mother, Betty Preston Tonkin, of Clarksburg. The family would like to give special thanks to Kim Miller, hospice nurse, and caretakers April Boggs, Morgan Smith and Cheryl Wallace for their care and support. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 am Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 405 B St., Saint Albans, with Father Charles Pope officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 pm Saturday at Bridgeport Cemetery, Bridgeport, West Virginia. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm Friday at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home in Saint Albans. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Children’s Home Society, P.O. Box 2942, Charleston, West Virginia, 25330, or Saint Marks Episcopal Church of Saint Albans Outreach Ministries, 405 B St, St Albans, WV 25177. You may visit Nancy’s tribute page at chapmanfuneralhomes.com to share memories or condolences with the family. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family owned and located at 409 Sixth Ave., St. Albans is honored to serve the Tonkin family.