Nancy Lou Rader

Nancy Lou Rader, 91, of Findlay, Ohio died peacefully on the evening of Friday, April 11, 2025 at The Birches in Villa Rica, GA.

Nancy was born October 3, 1933 in Ashtabula, Ohio, the daughter of William Metcalf and Bonita (Snider) Metcalf. After graduating from Ashtabula High School, she enrolled at Bowling Green State University, majoring in Elementary Education. At BG she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

She married Gerald Ivan Rader, whom she had met on a blind double date in college, at the First Methodist Church in Ashtabula on June 5, 1954. She demonstrated the skills she would later need to juggle the busy schedules of her three children in planning her own wedding. Gerald graduated from BGSU the 4th of June, they drove to Ashtabula the same day in time for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  The next day was the wedding and another reception.  The honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains was their next stop after spending their wedding night in Mt Vernon, Ohio.  They were back in time for Nancy’s summer school on the 11th.  What an itinerary! Gerald began work at the Ohio Oil Company and Nancy completed her student teaching in Findlay before they left for his active Army duty, which Gerald served in both Oklahoma and Maryland. Their first child, Pamela, was born while they were stationed in Annapolis. Following Gerald’s Army service, the couple moved back to Findlay where Gerald returned to work at the Ohio Oil Co. Their two sons, Mark and Timothy, were born there. Nancy was a wonderful mother to her three children, opting to be a stay-at-home mom raising her family, though she did use her degree doing substitute teaching.

A long-time member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Findlay, she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, accompanied on the piano, and more. During summers spent at Black Lake, MI, she served in many of the same ways at the United Methodist Church in nearby Onaway. Both Nancy and Gerald were life-long supporters of BGSU.

Nancy loved people and made friends wherever she went. She enjoyed entertaining and traveling. She was also a keen bridge player for most of her life, and she was a gifted pianist who could sit down at a keyboard and play nearly anything “by ear.”

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband and by a brother, Vier Metcalf.

She is survived by her three children; daughter Pamela (Howard) Hull of Coniston, Cumbria, U.K.; son, Mark (Susan) Rader of Spring Valley, MN; son, Timothy (Laura) Rader of Villa Rica, GA; grandchildren, Kyle (Kristina) Rader, Joel (Younji Choi) Rader, Austin Rader, and Olivia Rader; five great-grandchildren, Emmalyn Rader, Ellison Rader, Joshua Rader, Ari Rader, and Ruby Rader; sister, Janice deRidder of Geneva, OH; and sister-in-law, Joyce Metcalf of Ellenton, FL.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 700 E. Melrose Avenue, Findlay, OH, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. HUFFORD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 Manor Hill Rd., Findlay, (419) 422-1500) is honored to serve Nancy’s family.

In Nancy’s honor memorial donations can be made to Faith Presbyterian Church, 700 E Melrose Ave, Findlay, OH 45840, or to a cause of your choice.

Faith Presbyterian Church
700 E Melrose Ave., Findlay OH 45840
Tel: 1-419-425-2840