Nettie Jean Propps

In Loving Memory

Nettie Jean Propps
May 31, 1937 - October 7, 2024
Designer, Artist, Devoted Christian Wife and Grandmother

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1937 to Harry and Hazel Gump, Nettie, who was named after her grandmother Nettie Chesnutt Peterson, was raised in Clinton, North Carolina where her grandfather, Colonel George L. Peterson, was the Mayor. Nettie and her mom Hazel, a research biologist with the National Cancer Institute, then moved to Washington, DC.

Nettie attended McKinley Technical High School in Washington DC (Class of 1955) and went on to attend George Washington University. After her marriage to her college sweetheart, Walter Nelson Propps in 1958, they moved to Bethesda, Maryland where they remained for almost 65 years until her passing in 2024. Her strong marriage led her to be featured on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey show that aired in 1994. Oprah was discussing marriage and relationships and asked Nettie, who was in the audience for a taping of the show, what the secret to a long marriage was; Nettie's response was aired to approximately 10 million viewers.

After encouraging her husband to vacation in Bethany Beach, Delaware in the late 1960's, she began living many of her summers there with her children beginning in the 1980's while her husband would commute. She enjoyed taking long swims along the coast. She would swim miles up and down the beach often alarming onlookers and lifeguards since she swam further offshore than most. She enjoyed being heavily involved in the community and was a part of many Bethany Beach events including July 4th parade events over the years. She served several terms as president of the Sea Colony Sea Villas Homeowners Association in Bethany and formed great friendships with many of the business owners, neighbors, and locals. Bethany Beach became Nettie's second home.

Nettie was extremely creative and had many interests. She loved painting and creating commissioned murals in clients' homes and businesses. She attended art shows in Rehoboth, Lewes, and Bethany Beach, Delaware and her paintings were on display and for sale in several locations. She had an appreciation for anything old and shopped at antique stores every chance she had. She enjoyed photography and was often seen with a camera in her hand at any event that allowed her to document the festivities. She was also an avid snow skier and enjoyed traveling with the family to Killington, Vermont and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She also enjoyed water skiing. She was a long time bowler on the Wednesday Night Bowling League at Kenwood Country Club with her husband always by her side.

Nettie loved flowers and landscaping. For a while she worked at a well known florist in Bethesda just for fun. She spent many years sewing and enjoyed making many of her own outfits. She also loved to cook. One of her favorites, Nanna's Chicken, is still very much enjoyed by her family today. When she wasn't at home cooking, she was often found socializing at the legendary Marriott Bethesda Hot Shoppes counter in the center of downtown Bethesda.

Music and singing were a big part of Nettie's life. She sang much of her life and was in several choirs and performed as a soloist at churches in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. In her 20's she sang with a women's choral in Washington, DC. Nettie also enjoyed playing the piano.

She loved to travel around the world by plane, boat, or train. She cruised through Alaska and The Panama Canal and visited England, Sweden, Italy, France, Russia, Finland, China, Spain and many other countries and states.

Before she was married, Nettie worked for the United States Army Signal Corps (USASC). Her work with the Signal Corps was deemed so important that she was on a special evacuation list with high ranking military officials in case of a military attack. After getting married she worked in the family's trucking business, Farren's Transfer Storage Company on D Street in Washington, DC. In 1981 she started her own business, Custom House Design By Nettie. She began designing and supervising the construction of custom homes and renovations in Bethany Beach, Washington DC and Maryland. She designed the first home in Bethany that contained an elevator, a groundbreaking design element at the time. Years later she worked with her husband and son, Nick, at Commercial Brokers Real Estate Services handling all types of special real estate related projects around the DC area. Her interest in architecture and design led her to volunteer part time as a docent at the National Building Museum in Washington DC. She also served on the Bradley Boulevard Citizens Association ("BBCA") in Bethesda which kept over 850 property owners connected and informed about events affecting the neighborhood she lived in for almost 60 years.

A long time member of Potomac Presbyterian Church in Potomac, Maryland and Mariner's Bethel in Ocean View, Delaware, Nettie was strong in her faith and shared her love for God with her family and those around her. She helped many organizations and friends whenever she saw a need she could assist with. She was a member of Potomac Presbyterian Church for over 30 years and served on the National Capital Presbytery serving churches around the Washington, DC area.

Nettie was a great wife and an amazing mother to her two children. She taught them to be compassionate, creative and persistent and to push through difficult situations in life with God by your side. Her children are extremely thankful that their mom taught them such valuable lessons.

She was preceded in death by her mother Hazel Peterson Gump and her aunt Hilda Peterson Talamini, both of Clinton, North Carolina. She was survived by her husband of 65 years until his passing in February 2025. She leaves behind her daughter Amy Propps (Mario) of Germantown, MD and son Nick Propps (Melanie) and her 3 cherished grandchildren Aiden, Ryan and Reed Propps of Statesboro, GA. We love you Nana!

The family would like to thank the many friends and caregivers that helped look after Nettie while she dealt with dementia in recent years including long time friends Rob and Peggy Huber.

A Celebration of Life for Nettie and Walter was held in Bethesda Maryland in 2024 with many long time friends attending. In lieu of flowers, Nettie would like her friends to support their favorite charity or reach out and help a friend in need. Donations can also be made to Fostering Families Inc. a Christian based 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Statesboro Georgia that helps children and families in the foster care system.