Nancy Ables Celebration of Life

Nancy Ables, loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on February 24, six days after her 89th birthday. Nancy was born in Cleveland, moved to Baltimore at age six months, then to San Diego which became home for the next 83 years.

Nancy attended Alice Birney Elementary, Horace Mann Jr. High and San Diego High. In September 1946, she started her freshman year at San Diego State and met another freshman just out of the Navy. Tom Ables asked her to the Frosh Reception, she said yes, and two years later – she at age 19, he at 22 – they were married. They were together for 69 years until Tom’s passing in October 2017. She shared Tom’s love for the Aztecs, attending 441 football games and more than 1,000 Aztec basketball games.

Nancy worked in the Florence Elementary Library and then in the San Diego City Schools office until their first son Tom was born. From that point on, Nancy’s full-time job was raising Tom and Ken, their second son born five years later. 

When the family moved to Point Loma in 1958, Nancy joined Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church – and to say she was an active member is an understatement. In addition to singing in the choir for more than 50 years, Nancy served as an elder, a deacon, clerk of the Session, personnel committee member and wedding coordinator. She also taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school. And she volunteered in the church office proofreading the Sunday bulletin and paying bills. She made lifelong friends at church.

In her 30s and 40s Nancy was an active tennis player on the courts at the Kona Kai Club, playing doubles with her regular group every Thursday. During the summer, Tom and Ken would go with her and spend the days at the pool and the beach.

Like her husband Tom, Nancy loved the races at Del Mar. For 56 years Tom and Nancy were members of the Turf Club at Del Mar. Her method for picking a winner? Bet on Victor Espinoza.

One of Nancy’s favorite titles was Grandma. With four grandchildren spread out over a 16-year span, she was able to spend time with each one – going to their games, going out to eat and showering them with gifts at Christmas and birthdays, loving every minute of it.

Nancy is survived by son Tom and his wife Debbie, son Ken and his wife Charlene, grandkids Thom and his wife Amy, Rick and his fiancée Beth, Steve and Michelle. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband Tom, parents Joseph McKean and Elizabeth Lackie and brother Ken McKean.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, April 14, at:

Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church
2128 Chatsworth Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92107
 
Nancy and Tom will be inurned together in a private ceremony at Miramar National Cemetery on another day. In lieu of flowers, Nancy’s family is suggesting a donation in her name to either:

Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church
2128 Chatsworth Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 223-1633

The Aztec Club
San Diego State Athletics
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92128-4313
(619) 594-6444

San Diego Union Tribune Life Tribute