Nancy J. Levengood

Nancy J. Levengood, age 93, of Beach City, passed away Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at The Inn at Northwood Village, Dover.

Born March 21, 1931, in Dover, she was a daughter of the late Raymond E. Sr. and Josephine M. (Weigand) Lahmers. Nancy grew up on her family’s farm near Dover, and graduated from Dover High School. On March 10, 1951, she married Clyde M. “Bud” Levengood Jr. Bud’s family also farmed, and the couple moved to his family’s farm near Beach City, where, over the years, Nancy and Bud reared three children. Nancy was a loving, devoted wife and mother who labored alongside Bud in the hard day-to-day work of running a dairy farm. 

She was a member of Beach City’s First Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and served as church treasurer. Nancy also belonged to the Beach City Women’s Study Club and the Farm Bureau. When her children were young, Nancy was involved in Brownie Day Camp and was a 4-H advisor.

Nancy was the first woman to serve on the Stark County Fair Board, having been elected in 1971. She was very involved with the board and with the participants who entered items for display. She was superintendent of the fair’s Grange and Horticulture Department for over 40 years, and also was chair of the Entertainment Committee. In 2002, Nancy was presented the Hall of Fame Award recognizing her outstanding dedication and willing service to the Ohio fair industry; she was also the first woman to be so honored.

Nancy very much enjoyed working with flowers and caring for the lawn and plantings around her home. She loved going on trips with family members, visiting new places and going shopping. Nancy was an excellent cook and baker, and was often asked to judge pies and baked goods at county fairs and other events. She also liked to go square dancing with Bud, as well as playing euchre with friends.

Nancy will be dearly missed by her children, Barbara (Michael) Bishop and Mary Ann (Fred) Miller; her daughter-in-law, Monica Levengood; her grandchildren, whom she adored, Raymond “Buddy” and David (Tasha) Levengood, Megan (Nick) Nielsen, Darin (Amanda) Conti and Dietra (Nick) Page; her great-grandcchildren, whom she adored as well, Sean, Andrew, Robby, D.J., Henry, Clyde, Penny, Stella, Giovanni, Cameron and Ansley; her sisters, Marilyn Harrold and Linda (James) Kilgore and her many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bud; her son, Robert D. “Bob” Levengood; and her brother, Raymond “Bud” Lahmers Jr.

Family and friends may call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, on Sunday, September 8, 2 - 5 p.m., and on Monday, September 9, 10 - 11 a.m. Nancy’s funeral service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Rick Slayman officiating. Burial will follow in South Lawn Cemetery, Beach City. 

Instead of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Nancy’s memory be made to the Stark County Agricultural Society, Grange and Horticulture Department, P.O. Box 80279, Canton, Ohio 44708.