Nancy Virginia Martin

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Virginia (Mathias) Martin on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the age of 96. Nancy was born on March 27, 1929, in Harrisburg, PA to Robert and Mildred (Toomey) Mathias. She was an only child.

Nancy graduated from John Harris High School in Harrisburg and attended Elizabethtown College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work. It was during her time at Elizabethtown College when she and Carl met and began dating. Over the years of dating and early marriage, Nancy grew to love watching Carl play baseball and coach basketball.

Carl and Nancy were married on September 8, 1952. They had four children in seven years: Karen, Cynthia (Cindy), Michael (Mike) and Judith (Judy).

Nancy and Carl relocated from Harrisburg to Bensalem, PA in 1965 after Carl accepted a position as a math teacher and basketball coach at Bensalem High School. Nancy stayed home with the children. Once her children were all school age, Nancy began to substitute teach and eventually pursued a teaching degree. Soon after receiving her degree, she began her career as a teacher at Cornwells Elementary School. She remained there (fourth grade was her favorite grade to teach) for the balance of her teaching career until she retired in 1993.

Nancy came to know God personally in 1976 during the "I Found It" campaign. Not only did she place her faith in Jesus, but she began to understand that God gives us the ability to live out the Christian life by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us at the moment of conversion.

Nancy’s newfound personal faith in God began to grow rapidly. She began to seriously study the Bible by attending Precept Bible studies. She particularly loved studying the Old Testament. Nancy also taught the Bible to the women at Albion Bible in New Jersey.

One of the most notable family activities of Carl and Nancy was their yearly summer vacations at Lake Mississagagon in Canada. During their later years together, Carl and Nancy would spend more and more time at their cabin on the lake, enjoying the peace and tranquility of their surroundings, along with the fishing and occasional afternoon boat rides.

After the passing of Carl in 2013 (they were married for 61 years) and her daughter, Cindy, in 2015 (Cindy was 59 years old), Nancy remained steadfast in her faith, even though she missed them terribly.

Nancy was preceded in death by Carl and her daughter, Cindy Matthews. Nancy is survived by: Karen Schillack (husband John), son-in-law Gary Matthews (wife Martha), Mike Martin (wife Janice), and Judy Gerrard (husband Guy). She had eleven grandchildren: Cindy Schillack, Becky Schillack (fiancé Terrance Smith), Kevin Schillack (wife Lynn), Jessica de Waard (husband Benjamin), Jodi Vander Laan (husband Troy), Jill Matthews, Jason Martin, Ryan Martin (wife Amanda), Ben Gerrard, Megan Gerrard, and Nicole Gerrard. She also had 8 great-grandchildren.

Nancy had the blessing of living in her home for 60 years until she passed away. Living out her final years in her home is what she desired and her family (almost exclusively Karen, John, Cindy, and Becky Schillack who live nearby), as well as her regular caregivers (Christine and Wendy) made her wishes come true. Nancy was loved and cared for in amazing ways. It took a village!

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 9 to 10 AM at the Tomlinson Funeral Home, 2207 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020. A memorial service will begin at 10 AM. Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nancy’s memory to either:

Special Olympics of Lancaster, PA, PO Box 7442, Lancaster, PA 17604  www.specialolympicspa.org

Cru, P.O. Box 628222, Orlando, FL 32862 (Acct #0257767)  www.give.cru.org/0257767  (Judy’s ministry)

www.tomlinsonfh.com