John Nash II, 89, of Laurel Ridge Road in Tryon passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.
He was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on Oct. 20, 1921, one of four sons of Humphrey and Margaret Nash. He and his surviving wife, Joan Le Grand Nash, moved to Tryon in 1978 from Iowa City, Iowa. Mr. Nash took part in local politics, served as president of Polk County Community Health and was a devoted volunteer tutor at Sunny View and Polk Central elementary schools. The Nashes spent their summers at a family home in Royalston, Mass., for many years.
Mr. Nash attended Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, and graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II (9th Armored Division) and in the Korean War, 987th Field Artillery Battalion.
In 1953, John married Jane Lyons, daughter of Dr. Horace Lyons of Tryon and Chicago, Ill., in the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon. He was a founder of the Appian Way Pizza Company in San Jose, Calif., and Worcester, Mass., and was plant manager for the Dial Soap Division of Armour & Company in Aurora, Ill.
Surviving Mr. Nash are three sons: Bruce M. Nash (Sue) of Mequon, Wisc., Horace L. Nash (Betsy) of Menlo Park, Calif., and Geoffrey H. Nash (Camille) of Edina, Minn.; seven grandchildren: Claire, Julia and Peter Nash of Edina, Minn., Kristen, Megan and Jonathan Nash of Menlo Park, Calif.; and Katie Nash of Mequon, Wisc.
Also mourning are five stepchildren: Eloise Hellyer (Amato) of Montano, Italy, Tirrell Hoeflinger (Douglas) of Oro Valley, Az., Arthur Hellyer (Cindy) of Spartanburg, S.C., Edith Felker (David) of Escondido, Calif., and John Hellyer of Story City, Iowa; six step-grandchildren: Lucia Ford (Jeremy) of Fairfax, Va., Jennifer North of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Diana Sundsvold (Scott) of Springfield, Va., Coleman and Kathryn Hellyer of Spartanburg and Chase Hellyer of Story City, Iowa.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Tryon Estates in Columbus.
In lieu of flowers it is requested that John be remembered with donations to the Hospice House of the Carolina Foothills, 260 Fairwinds Road, Landrum, S.C. 29356, or to a charity of choice. Anyone wishing to send a note to the family may address it to: P.O. Box 1480, Tryon, N.C. 28782.