Nancy Polley, 89

Nancy Polley passed away Sunday morning, June 21, 2026, as a result of heart failure while undergoing a medical procedure. Although CPR was successful in temporarily bringing her back to life, she was unable to endure the shock and pain.

Nancy was born Feb. 6, 1937, to Stella Marie and George R. Thomas. The Thomas family made several moves, and wound up in Sacramento, Calif., where George was hired by Coca-Cola as a production engineer. Late in her senior year of high school, Nancy met Airman Manson Polley, whom she married Apr. 9, 1955, in Sacramento. As a service wife now, she joined her husband in West Palm Beach, where he was assigned, and began a life of travel and “Uncle Wiggly Adventures” as she eventually called her numerous moves.

In 1957, Manson was accepted for OCS, which resulted in his commissioning as a second lieutenant. As a new officer, Manson was ordered to Harlingen, Texas, for Navigator training. While at Harlingen AFB, Nancy accepted a civil service position as secretary to the base chaplains. Thus began a long career of civil service. When Manson elected to remain at Harlingen AFB as a Military Training Officer with the Aviation Cadet Training Program, moves four and five were made to accommodate their status as “permanent party.”

In the ensuing years, they were assigned to six different USAF bases, resulting in eight more housing moves. Upon completing “Bootstrap” college education, Manson was assigned to Germany for duty with Air Forces Europe. Nancy immediately applied for a Civil Service position and spent 3 ½ years working with German bus drivers, working for the Defense school system in Europe. Her German language capability improved dramatically. While in Germany, they spent every available free time visiting all the adjoining non-communist countries. At the end of their Germany assignment and four more housing moves, Nancy was disappointed to learn that the next move would be to Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, for three years. She was ready to come “home” to the USA.

After 30 days' leave in the USA, Nancy was on a military transport en route to Okinawa, Japan.

Arriving Aug. 3, 1979, Nancy was extremely unhappy with the terrible heat and humidity, only to find out that everyone was confined to their quarters (Nancy and family to transient quarters) (rather basic and grungy) until a nearing typhoon passed by. Finally released from confinement, they learned that the promised housing had been assigned to an Army family.

After another move, they settled in and Nancy went back to civil service as a secretary to a USAF colonel. After a short time, she was offered a better position as secretary to a SAC Deputy Commander for Operations who also oversaw a visiting detachment of RC-71s (called Habu’s) supersonic reconnaissance aircraft. She was very agreeable to his offer to go with him to the flight line and monitor a Habu takeoff. She was highly impressed when she saw the space-suited pilot climb the ladder to the SR-71 lined up at the end of the runway. The pilot advanced the throttle and was off the runway and climbing out of sight in just seconds.

Nancy’s final military move was to Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Wash., where Manson retired from the USAF as a Lieutenant Colonel with 35 ½ years of service. After retirement from the Air Force, they moved to Vashon Island, Wash., and Nancy and Manson took keep-busy jobs. A few years later, they retired and became “snowbirds,” traveling in their motorhome throughout the West/Southwest. Finally convinced by their daughter and two sons that enough was enough, they made their final move to Post Falls and Garden Plaza senior housing, which was move No. 36 and the final “Uncle Wiggly Adventure.”

Nancy is survived by Manson and their three children: Cindy Louise, Christopher and Ronald, as well as six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.