Taylor Edwin "Ed" Nance

Mr. Taylor Edwin “Ed” Nance, 95, of Winston-Salem, passed away on Saturday, October 30, 2021.  Ed was born on August 23, 1926, in Danville, VA to the late Taylor McKinley Nance and Mary Alice Buie Nance.  Ed was a graduate of Georgia Military Academy (now known as Woodward Academy) and Georgia Tech.  He proudly served his country in the United States Navy.  Following his military service, Ed met Rebecca Langdon in Fayetteville, NC in 1947.  She became the love of his life and they enjoyed 64 wonderful years of marriage until her death in 2014.  Ed was employed with Western Electric, Carborundum, and retired from Columbia Steel Castings after more than 30 years of service.  He played a vital role in the Mercury and Apollo Space Programs as well as the SR-71 Project.  Ed was responsible for the creation of the carbon resister heat shield for the space capsules as well as the thermistor sensor which measured the respiratory rate of astronauts.  Ed developed the fuel line insulation tape for the SR-71 among other important parts of the project.  Ed was a member of the Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.  He was also an ordained Deacon in the Baptist church.  In addition to his parents and wife, Ed was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Nance and two sisters, Annie Mae Reynolds and Mary Engelien.  He is survived by his children, Mary Susan Nance (Bill Davis) of Houston, TX, Brenda Peoples of Clemmons, NC, and Michael Nance (Leigh) of Belmont, NC; and four grandchildren, Benjamin Swing (Stephanie), Stewart Swing, Mary Nance, and Craig Nance.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at Forsyth Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361.  Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the family of Mr. Nance.