Nancy Lee Galvin's Obituary
Nancy Galvin peacefully passed away, at the age of 85, at Camarillo Healthcare Center the night of Aug.3, 2025 - after suffering months of illnesses, surgery, and a sudden massive stroke at St. Johns Oxnard Regional Hospital. Her motto was to "Keep on Truckin'", which she did until her last days. Nancy loved horror movies, old TV classics, especially Dark Shadows, westerns, and decorating during the holidays, while being fond of lighthouses, the Tweety Bird cartoon character, and cats.
This beautiful, friendly woman was born Nancy Lee Sanborn on Feb. 26, 1940 in West Virginia. After being raised with sister Flora, as well as brothers Joe and Chester Jr., her mom tragically died. So, her dad, Chester Sr., moved the family out to California. In the late 1950s, after going to high school and working at Hollywood's Grauman"s Chinese Theater, and meeting stars like Johnny Weismuller (Tarzan), she met and subsequently married Gerald Calder. She and her new husband then moved to Germany after he had enlisted in the U.S. Army. While there, she gave birth to two sons - Fleming (1961) and Taylor (1962). After the military, the family settled in New York. She worked as a waitress in several places, even meeting Telly Savalas (Kojak), who tipped Nancy well given her courteousness. But by the mid 70s, she and her husband divorced. So. Nancy was forced to support two growing teenage boys while working many hours and odd jobs.
By the 1990s, after her sons had become young men, began creating their own lives, and moved out of the household, she returned to Calfornia to be with her westcoast family again and take care of her ailing dad - until his death shortly thereafter. Nancy then would meet and marry Tom Galvin; starting a short running small business cleaning mobile homes until her second husband died in 2008 (as did her first husband six months later). Afterwards, being on her own, over the years, she made friends, while also being visited by or in touch with her son Fleming, "daughter"-in-law Nancy, son Taylor, granddaughter Tyler, cousin Mira, Vicki, and others. But by Feb. 2025, after the devastating loss of Taylor a month earlier and illnesses, she went back and forth between hospitals and rehab center/nursing home until her unexpected stroke, then demise.
She is survived by family that includes her eastcoast family Fleming, Nancy, Tyler and her husband Mike, and the Van Dorens, western U.S. relatives such as Debbie, Sharon, Mike, Shannon, and others, as well as friends Nick, Mark, Melissa, Paul, Margaret, and Fred, along with the staff and residents she befriended at the nursing home/rehab center. Now, Nancy will assuredly "Keep on Truckin'" in heaven with her loved ones. In the coming weeks, a memorial service announcement will be made and occur at Ivy Lawn Funeral Home in Camarillo.
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