Nancy K. Schneider

Nancy K. Schneider died on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 after living a full, adventurous life. Nancy Wray Kirch was born Sept. 24, 1929 to George and Clara Mae Kirch in Pittsburgh, PA. She loved the outdoors, growing up in the countryside outside Pittsburgh. She graduated from American University in Washington, D.C., having been a cheerleader and a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Following graduation, she was thrilled to join her husband on the island of Okinawa, where he was stationed during the Korean War. She taught PE at Harman Elementary School in Oakwood, Ohio for 20 years, while also earning her Master’s degree from Wright State University and rearing 2 children. She moved to Hilton Head Island, SC in 1973 and taught PE at McCracken High School in Bluffton. An avid golfer, she was the boy’s golf coach for several years, as well as the girl’s cheerleading coach. She became a Guidance Counselor, continuing in that position when the school moved to the island and became Hilton Head High School. She loved her job and the students that she encountered in her career and was passionate about trying to help them all succeed. After retiring from full-time teaching, she was elected to the Beaufort County School Board. After her term was finished, she remained active at HHHS by substitute teaching for many years. An enthusiastic athlete her entire life, she enjoyed swimming, diving, ice skating, skiing, hiking, golf, and even learned to wind surf when she was in her late 60’s. Late in life, her athletic passion became walking, either on the beach or through Port Royal Plantation. Like her father, she had a life-long love of gardening, both flowers and vegetables. She was very active in community theater and loved acting, dancing and singing in most of the early productions at Dunnegan’s Alley. She volunteered for many years at the Bargain Box, as her mother had done in the 60’s and 70’s. She was very adventurous and loved traveling to exotic places around the world. Nancy is survived by her sister, Ann Rickard (York, PA), son Glenn and Sarah Morales (Autoire, France), daughter, Janet and John George (Hilton Head, SC), 3 grandchildren Brian George (HHI), Laura Matthews (Raleigh, NC), Audrey Morales (Autoire, France), 3 great-grandchildren Emma, Jack, and Claire George (all of HHI), and numerous nephews, niece, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Luke’s Church, 50 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, Nancy would love to have you take time today to do something you’re passionate about or spend time with friends or family. If you would like to share, her family would love to hear what you chose to do.