NANCY J. HORVATH (nee DUNKLE), 96, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, after a short illness, surrounded by loved ones at the Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake. She was born April 10, 1929, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, to Willard E. and Mary Roman Dunkle, (both deceased). In 1944, she came to Elyria and lived here her entire adult life. She graduated from Elyria High School in 1947 and worked at Elyria Telephone Company, first as a long-distance operator and then promoted to supervisor in the company’s traffic department. She married Eugene R. Horvath of Elyria in 1950, and when he returned home after serving in the U.S. Army, Eugene and his father, Peter Horvath, built the couple’s first home on Concord Avenue. The couple later moved to a home on Michigan Avenue, where they raised their children, Brooke and Barbara; they lived in that home for 53 years, until they moved to The AbbeWood Senior Living Community in 2019. When Eugene passed away in November 2021, the couple had been married for more than 70 years.

Nancy was an active member of St. Paul Church (now known as Community of Faith) and its Women’s Guild. She was also active in the Elyria Woman’s Club and served as its president and in many other roles. She also was involved in the Lorain County Historical Society and enjoyed learning about the stories and people of our county and city.

From an early age, Nancy was known for her dramatic talent: as a high school student, she was selected to appear with Elyrian Richard Ehlke in Richard III and The Merchant of Venice at the Ohio Wesleyan College Shakespeare Festival. Later she performed in many productions of the Elyria Playmakers and the Black River Playhouse. She wrote and performed countless dramatized book reviews for women’s clubs in the area and later at The AbbeWood, often speaking from the point of view of a central character. She will be remembered for her wit, her devotion to family, her generosity, her faith, her love of Lake Erie, and her cooking and baking.

She is survived by her loving son, Dr. Brooke K. (Virginia) Horvath of Kent; devoted daughter, Barbara L. Felt of North Ridgeville; and grandchildren, Robert R. (Naylene) Felt of Atlanta, Susan Horvath of Akron, and Jordan Horvath (Bryan Hartman) of Cuyahoga Falls. Extended family members include sisters Darlene Largent and Barbara Craft and their extended families in Pennsylvania; great-granddaughter, Annalise Felt; step-grandchildren Emily (Jerry) Tennant and Caitlin (Kelley) Clark, and three step-great-grandsons.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at Community of Faith UCC 9715 East River Road in Elyria. Reverend Delisa Buckingham-Taylor will officiate. Burial at Ridge Hill Memorial Park will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nancy’s name can be made to the church or to Lorain County Historical Society 284 Washington Ave. Elyria, OH. 44035.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.laubenthalmercado.com. Arrangements entrusted to Laubenthal Mercado Funeral Home in Elyria.