Colonel Carol Glancy Nuss, who proudly served in the United States Air Force for twenty-two years, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of November 3, 2022, while living in the Memory Care Unit of MorningStar Mountain Shadows, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Carol was 82 and had fought a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Carol was born on December 27, 1939, in Louisville, Kentucky, the first of three children. Her mother, Carrie Reid Glancy, was a registered nurse, and her father, Robert C. Glancy, Jr, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was an engineer for American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T), which brought the family to assignments in Atlanta Georgia, Bethesda Maryland, and White Plains, New York. After graduating high school in White Plains, Carol attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, graduating with honors in 1961 with a degree in Nursing. Selected for advanced training in cardiac care, Carol attended Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and then helped to establish the first Cardiac Care Unit in her hometown of White Plains.

In 1969, Carol entered the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned as a Captain in the Nurse Corps at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, California. She then chose to pursue medical evacuation (Med-Evac) flight nurse training at Brooks Air Force Base in Texas, after which she was assigned to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines for her Vietnam tour from 1971-72.

Among her many decorations are the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

In 1990, a year before her retirement as an Air Force Colonel (O-6), she married her long-time friend and colleague, David Nuss, also an Air Force Colonel. In 1994, they made Colorado Springs their home. Carol was very active in her church (Grace & St. Steven’s Episcopal), where she actively participated in, for example, the Discernment Committee, and the Garden Committee. And, for many years, she was an active participant in the Society of Air Force Nurses (SAFN).  She was so very creative, and loved photography, home decorating, sewing, computer art and card-making.  She and David enjoyed cuddling with their beautiful Schnauzer, Hans, and also enjoyed traveling, often visiting Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Belize, and South Africa.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband of thirty-two years, David Nuss; her brother, Robert C. Glancy III, of Pinetop, Arizona; and her niece, Amy Carol Phillips of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her loving sister, Sharon L. Kay, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; two nephews, Michael Phillips of Effort, Pennsylvania, and Robert C. Glancy IV of Forest, Virginia; and two nieces, Debra Mendez of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Jennifer Glancy Gray of Kerrville, Texas.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Grace & St. Stephen’s Church. Col. Nuss will be laid to rest – with full military honors – in the U.S. Air Force Academy cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. No date has yet been set for either of these events.

In appreciation for her military service and her many years of membership in SAFN, a donation is being made by SAFN in Carol’s name to the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. 

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Carol can send donations to the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia; the website address is as follows:  https://womensmemorial.org/

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This Obituary Has 5 Condolences

  1. Dear Sharon, David and all of Carol’s loved ones,
    Dan and I loved Carol’s joy and spirit during the times we were with her. We know you will miss her dearly and we send our prayers and wishes for God’s rich grace and mercy to comfort your hearts during this time.
    Dan and Kathy Kay

  2. On behalf of the Society of Air Force Nurses, please know we are also mourning the death of our friend and colleague, retired Colonel Carol Nuss. She was a remarkable woman who made such a difference to so many during her own journey through life. Carol was a Lifetime member of the Society and a Patron; a donation will be made in her memory to the Military Women’s Memorial which stands at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. She will most definitely be missed by many, and Carol will not be forgotten by the community of Air Force nurses.
    Linda J. Stierle, Brigadier General, United States Air Force (Retired)

  3. Carol Glancy was a fellow nurse at Hartwick college and a gamma sorority sister as well. All of us who had the privilege to know and work with her had the honor of watching her take on challenges and overcoming them.. she was always positive and maintained a wonderful sense of humor…we all loved her very much and appreciated all that she was involved in❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  4. The Buckley SFB military Retiree Activities Office (RAO) would like to offer our sincere condolences and our gratitude for Col Nuss’ 22 years of distinguished service to our country in the Air Force. If you would like help with any matters related to casualty assistance, Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Veterans Affairs (VA), etc. you can contact our office on Buckley SFB at 720-847-6693 or raobuckley@gmail.com. The RAO is staffed by volunteers, all military retirees themselves, and our sole purpose is to provide assistance to any military retirees and surviving spouses/family members with anything related to their military service and/or benefits, in particular during difficult times such as this. We are deeply sorry for your loss.

    Steve Young
    Lt Col, USAF, Ret
    Director, Buckley SFB RAO

  5. I was stationed with Carol at Castle AFB in 1969
    I enjoyed working with her; she was a wonderful woman
    My condolences

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