Monte Eugene Nash

Major Monte E. Nash, USAF (Ret.), age 85, died on December 17, 2015 in Orange City, Florida. Born in Ames, Iowa, he entered military service at the age of 16 and progressed through the enlisted grades to receive his commission after attending USAF Officer Candidate School in 1955. In his early enlisted service he rose quickly to the grade of Technical Sergeant by the time he was 21. Entering OCS in early 1955 he graduated 14th in his class of 117. During his career Major Nash served in various state-side assignments, two years in the Philippines, three years in Europe and finally the last six years at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., serving on the Air Staff at Headquarters, USAF. He earned several decorations and awards during his career, including the Meritorious Service Medal. Retiring on January 1, 1972 after 25 years of service, he then pursued new challenges in the insurance and real estate industries. He and his first wife were Real Estate Agents. After living in the Northern Virginia area for 18 years he and his wife moved to Orange City in 1984.

Major Nash contributed to the community of Central Florida through volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity in the 1990s’s, and was instrumental in the origination of the Orange City Historic Preservation Board to preserve Orange City’s historic buildings. His most favorite pastime was playing slow pitch softball with the following teams: The Old Goats, The Gators, The Deltona Kiwanis, and the CFR Hospital team.

Upon the death of his first wife, Rita McBirnie Nash and after fifty years of marriage, Major Nash married Ardyce Deuel Nash, to whom he was married for twelve and a half years. The second Mrs. Nash died in 2013.

Major Nash is survived by two children and their respective spouses: daughter Pamela Nash-Ward and her husband, Master Sergeant George I. Ward, and son Timothy Nash and his wife Nancy; three grandchildren: Justin Nash, Bryce Leeann O’Connor and Brandon Nash; and one great-granddaughter, Nevaeh Nash, daughter of Justin and Catherine Nash.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 21, 2015 from 10:00 to 11:00 am at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home; with funeral services beginning at 11:00 am in the funeral home. Entombment will follow with military honors in Deltona Memorial Gardens. Monte's family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project in Monte's honor.