Nancy Bosworth Crutchfield, 95, of Niceville, Fla., passed away at home on Nov. 5, 2019, surrounded by friends and family. She was the wife of the late James L. Crutchfield. She was the daughter of the late Roswell S. and Edith (Howard) Bosworth. Her father was editor and publisher of the Bristol Phoenix. She was the sister of the late Roswell S. Bosworth, Jr., who was publisher and owner of the Phoenix-Times Publishing Company.

Born in Providence on Dec. 11, 1923, she lived in Bristol and attended Bristol public schools through graduation from Colt Memorial High School in 1941.She attended Brown University and the University of Rhode Island, graduating in 1948. She earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina in 1953.

Her professional life began unexpectedly in 1943 when she took a two-year leave from college to work with her parents at the family-owned newspaper, the Bristol Phoenix, as a news reporter in Bristol, Rhode Island. As a teenager, she cut her teeth covering the 1938 Hurricane for the newspaper with her father.

After graduating from URI, she began what became a distinguished career in nutrition and public health that spanned 43 years. In 1947 she became the first nutritionist with The Visiting Nurses Association in Boston, Mass. In 1949 she became the first home economist at the State of Rhode Island’s Department of Social Welfare. In 1953 she became the first full time public health nutritionist at the Guilford County Health Department, Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1955 she was named home economist and assistant director of home economics and nutrition at the Community Service Society, New York, New York.

In 1967, after 10 years as a stay at home mother and wife, she became the first diet counselor at the Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, New Jersey. In 1978 she became a home economist at Rutgers University and was given the State of New Jersey’s Distinguished Service Award in 1984. She retired in 1986 as a tenured associate professor.

She was active in the American Association of Family and Consumer Science (formerly the American Home Economics Association) from 1950 through her retirement. She was a member of the National Association of Extension Home Economists and was honored with its Roth Award in 1981. She was also a member of the American Dietetic Association.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Flemington, N.J., serving on the board of deacons. She was a ruling elder and a commissioner of Christian education. After moving into a retirement community in 2007, she was active in the residence’s association, serving as president and treasurer and served on a number of committees.

She devoted much of her time to her family and friends, particularly her husband and son, which she counted amongst her greatest accomplishments. She felt very fortunate to have lived a life full of great friendships and connections. Her interests included the piano and pipe organ, sewing, knitting, embroidery (she was a member of the Embroiderers Guild of America) and travel.

Survivors include her son, Steven M. Crutchfield and his wife, Eloise O. Hatfield of Gainesville, Va.; a nephew, Peter C. Bosworth of Lee, Mass.; a niece, Barbara R. Bosworth, of Shoreham, Vt.; a sister-in-law, Marcia W. Bosworth of Bristol, Rhode Island; step-nephews, Jonathan W. Hayes and Matthew D. Hayes, both of Bristol; several grand nieces and grand nephews, and her feline companion, Sylvester.

A memorial funeral service celebrating her life will be held in the spring of 2020. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Linden Place, 500 Hope St., Bristol, RI.