Charles   D.   Nash,   Class   1948No.   16532   /   6   Jun   1926   -   3   Aug   1994   Died   in Berea,    KY    Interned    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   bachelors degrees, one earned his masters 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.