Nancy Ochs, 83, of Hot Springs, VA, passed away on September 16, 2022.

Nancy was born on March 1, 1939 to Harold and Elsie Ochs in New Jersey.  She grew up on her parents' dairy farm, where she worked hard, studied hard, and kicked the superintendent's son down the bank (she always maintained he ran into her foot).  She went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Douglass college and raise her children, Pam and Jeremy, in upstate New York while growing vegetables and keeping livestock and honeybees.   After a move to Virginia and a divorce she went on to earn a doctorate in education from William and Mary, embarking on a new career as a family counselor.  She met and married Byron "Bud" Willner, ultimately moving with him to Hot Springs, VA where they retired together and spent many happy years outside growing things and fishing on Lake Moomaw.  She and Bud volunteered for twelve years through the Local Office on Aging to assist Medicare recipients with signing up for Medicare Part D.   She is survived by her husband, Bud Willner, children Pam Ochs and Jeremy Phillips, stepson Scott Willner, grandchildren Quinn, Nixie and Faelen Ochs Thomas, siblings Virginia Pierce, Marilyn DeFulvio and Harold Ochs Jr, cousin Paul Fenske, and nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family requests donations to the Southern Poverty Law Center in her name in lieu of flowers. There will be a celebration of life Saturday October 15 at 11AM at WestWinds Venue 4905 Indian Draft Road, Covington, VA 24426.  The family would like (but do not require!) RSVPs to the celebration of life to aid in planning.

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