Nancy Beth Eldridge Stolz was born on May 17, 1941 in Decatur, Texas to Anna Lois and Reverend Samuel Edgar Eldridge. She and her sister Beverly spent their childhood and teen years as “PK’s” (Preacher’s Kids) growing up in the rural North Central and West Texas towns of Pilot Point, Big Spring and Hereford. No doubt, the nurturing, pastoral home environment of her formative years prepared her to be the consummate host and encourager she would be all of her adult life - even until her move to Heaven in the early hours of March 28, 2026.

In 1963, after graduating from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, she began teaching 1st grade in the Wichita Falls Independent School District. In fact, she had the first “open classroom” concept in the school district. With a love for reading, her favorite place in the classroom was her reading nook where she would sit in a rocking chair reading to and teaching her students to read. Longing to be a mother, she taught the children entrusted to her classroom with the fervor of a mother hen with her chicks. Her burden for children did not begin in an elementary classroom, though. It was birthed in the churches her father pastored as she taught Sunday School and led in Children’s Ministry. She also conducted Kids Crusades and Vacation Bible Schools in churches during her summer breaks. Sadly, she was unable to have children of her own.

Unknown to her, but known to God, 150 miles away in Garland, Texas was a young man who had lost his wife 2 years earlier. He had 2 young children; a 7 year old son and a 5 year old daughter who prayed every night that God would give them a mommy. A mutual friend played matchmaker, and in the fall of 1975, John Raymond Stolz drove 3 hours to Wichita Falls to meet her. On June 12, 1976, John, Jr and Sabrina had their mommy, and Nancy became a wife and mom - her two most cherished titles.

Packing up her things, she relocated to Garland, Texas where she became a homemaker. And what a homemaker she was. Following the example of her mother she set her heart and hands to making their house a home. Whether it was cooking, baking, sewing, cleaning - you name it - she did it all with a cheerful heart and full of love. It was her desire for her children to have the best education possible, so in 1980 she went back to work in order to pay tuition for private schooling. Her first foray back in the work world was as a secretary at Tom James Custom Tailoring for Men. When her church made the decision to begin a Christian school, she left Tom James to be the first 1st grade teacher at Buckingham North Christian School where she endeared herself to parents and students alike. Eventually, she would retire from teaching; but that would be short-lived when she had an opportunity to return to her first love of literacy. You might say, “Hooked on phonics worked for her…and those she tought to read!”. When her mothers health began to fail, she retired from the Garland Independent School District to care full-time for her.

Ever the social butterfly, Nancy’s social life was centered in her church, First Assembly of God (now First At Firewheel) in Garland, Texas. She was always involved in some form of ministry whether it was teaching Sunday School, women’s ministry, small group Bible studies or missions projects. However, the church choir was her favorite. She loved to sing, and sang in several ladies trios and ensembles over the years. She had a beautiful alto voice that she used to praise and worship her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Another great joy was regular coffee get-togethers with close friends.

During the Covid pandemic of 2020, she joined her husband in making one of the most difficult decisions to relocate to Oologah, Oklahoma. They packed up 44 years of life and left their home and lifelong friends for new ones. They found their niche at Oologah Assembly of God where they were warmly welcomed and quickly loved.

Despite the many changes in Nancy’s life over the years, the one constant was her capacity to love. This was never more evident than with her family. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Sam and Anna Lois Eldridge; her sister, Beverly Slade. She is survived by her husband of just under 50 years, John; her son, John Stolz, Jr and wife, Diana; her daughter, Sabrina Stolz and life-partner Jim Barr; grandchildren, Gage Kinnard, Kailynn Williams and husband Colten, Tyler Stolz and William Stolz; great grandsons, Kaiden Loera, Sawyer and Stetson Williams; bonus grandchildren, Blake Mitchell and wife Hannah, Kaylin Reames and husband Harman, Madison Schmidt and husband John-Martin, Aaron and Austin Charron, Aiden and Alan Wendt; and bonus great grandsons, Archie, Warren and Dean Mitchell, Theo Reames, and Mason Schmidt; and her niece Sabra Davis and husband Don.

Visitation will be noon to 8:00 pm, Monday, March 30, 2026, at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home. The family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Oologah Assembly of God Church with Rev. Kent Jensen officiating.

Burial will follow at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.