Posted by XXXXXX on May 4, 2008:

Charles D. Nash ’48 No. 16532 6 Jun 1926 – 3 Aug 1994 Died in Berea, KY Inurned in Rosewood Cemetery, Lewisburg, WV, and Union Church Memorial Garden, Berea, KY Charles Nash was born in Alderson, WV, the second of three sons to J. Frank and Rachel Tuckwiller Nash. While growing up in Alderson, CD was active in sports and enjoyed playing music. He was given a drum set as a young boy but was allowed to practice playing the drums only on a raft in the middle of the river that divided the town. He also played the flute and later was a member of the West Virginia State High School Band. CD did well academically, skipping third grade. He was the smallest player on the athletic teams, but he lettered in both football and basketball in each of his four years of high school. He graduated from high school at 16 years of age as valedictorian of his class. CD then entered Purdue University to study engineering. In his freshman year at Purdue, he received appointments to West Point and the Naval Academy. He chose the Military Academy and mechanical engineering was his field of study. While a cadet, he was very active in sports. He played lacrosse and football, swam, and participated in track and field, lettering in each of these sports. As a plebe, he broke the long jump record. He was also a member of the mile relay team that set a record that stood for fourteen years and captain of the track team for the 1947–1948 season. CD received the award for the cadet who had done the most for athletics during his four years at the USMA, but he also was on the Ring Committee for four years and in the Art Club for two years. His other activities included participating in the choir, Chess Club, and Dialectic Society and serving on the Honor Committee. He also was a cheerleader, a Sunday School helper, and on the Howitzer staff. In his First Class year, CD made lieutenant and chose pilot training for his branch of service. He was an excellent student and graduated high in his class. His later thoughts were that he could have been on the inside track for becoming one of the first astronauts, but CD developed diabetes that year. He was allowed to graduate, and then he was immediately given a medical discharge. He served as the secretary of the Class of 1948 for several years. After graduation, CD worked in various businesses in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Chicago before returning to Alderson to open his own machine-building business. He enjoyed the challenge of taking an idea and turning it into a working piece of machinery. CD built prototype machines for a number of industries, and several patents were issued in his name. In Alderson, he lived on the family farm with his wife Mary. They raised five children and became grandparents to eight grandchildren. He was a Deacon, an Elder, and the Sunday School superintendent in the Alderson Presbyterian Church. He also was a 4-H leader and was active in the Alderson Development Group. Education was very important to CD. All five of his children completed college and received bachelor’s degrees, one earned his master’s degree, and two earned their doctorates. CD made friends quickly. He looked at situations in life from a unique perspective and was always optimistic that there was a solution to any problem. He was a skilled and inspiring teacher and coach who was always willing to share his knowledge and experience. His expertise ranged from how to position hands, pump arms, and point toes when running, to the intricacies of fabricating a worm gear out of a solid block of brass. He taught many people how to shake hands, tie a tie, milk a cow, shear a sheep, spin wool, weave a white oak basket, design and carve a wooden lapel pin, or live an honorable, dignified life. In 1984, CD moved to Berea, KY, with Mary while she completed her college degree. While in Berea, he became a volunteer coach for the Berea College track team and the Dolphin diving team. One of his divers went on to become an All-American. After a two-year battle with cancer and complications from diabetes, Charles David Nash died in Berea, KY, on 3 Aug 1994. He is missed by all who knew him.

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