R J Nash

Bedford Times-Press September 2004

R. Jay Nash

R. [alph] Jay Nash, 86, of Kearney, MO, formerly of Camanche, IA, died Sunday, September 12, 2004 at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO.

A Memorial service was held at 10 A.M. on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at the Camanche Chapel Snell-Zonig-Dennis A. Lemke Funeral Home & Crematory.

R. [alph] Jay Nash was born on Friday, March 8, 1918, in Bedford, IA, the son of [Marion] Brooks and Bethel (Smalley) Nash. He graduated from Bedford High School, with honors. He attended Drake University in Des Moines for 6 semesters. He married Leona Guessford in 1943; she died after almost 27 years of marriage. He then married Jane Kennedy Thummel December 19, 1970; she died November 4, 1995.

R. [alph] Jay was employed as a radio newscaster and DJ at KRNY, KSO and KIOA in Des Moines until 1958, when be became a manufacturer’s rep in the state of Ohio for Grinnell Glove Company of Grinnell, IA. In 1962 he was promoted to National Sales Manager of the Grinnell Glove Company, which became De Long Sportswear. He retired from De Long Sportswear in 1981 and moved to Camanche in 1982.

In Camanche he was active in the Camanche Historical Society, serving one year as president. He was a long time Camanche Kiwanis member and a past president of the Kiwanis.

Survivors include: his adopted daughter, Sara [Coleen] Nash of Englewood, CO; his step-son Steve Thummel of Lawson, Mo.; his step-daughter Margie Stillwagon of Vero Beach, Fl; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

1st wife had asthma and other health problems and died at young age.

Nash, Sara Coleen df R. Jay, nee 19 Nov, adopted (DMes). B 28 Dec 1950

EMail from Carol Grover, Jan 2001

WE HAVE A COUSIN, (RALPH JAY NASH). WHO GOES BY THE NAME OF R. J. TO WHOM I WRITE FREQUENTLY AND IS IN PORT ISABEL, TEXAS RIGHT NOW. HE'LL DRIVE HIMSELF TO CAMANCHE, IOWA BY APRIL 1, WHERE HE SPENDS THE SUMMERS. HE'S UNCLE BROOKS AND AUNT BETHEL'S SON. THEY HAD TWO KIDS: R.J. AND MADONNA. MADONNA IS IN OHIO, BUT NOT IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH ANYONE. I CALLED HER LAST SUMMER, JUST TO SEE IF I COULD REACH HER, BUT SHE'S OLDER THAN R.J. AND HE'S 82, SO HER HEALTH IS VERY POOR. SHE'S NOT ABLE TO CORRESPOND EXCEPT WHEN SHE IS CALLED TO THE PHONE. I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S IN A NURSING HOME NOW, OR NOT. R.J. DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HER VERY MUCH.

Email from Carol Grover, May 2001

He said he's into his fifth week in a motel due to his house being flooded. He's right on the bank of the Mississippi River, with his deck out over the bank and his little boat tied to a corner of the deck. Said he didn't have his typewriter, so that's why he's not been sending me any letters lately. He was just 83 in March. Is a very colorful character and interesting to visit with. He lives in Camanche, Ia. after April 1st, and in the summer, then goes to Port Isobelle, Tx. around November 1st and spends the winter.