Peter Caswell Nash

Peter was born on September 25, 1941 to Colin Tucker Nash and Ivy Merlin Nash in Nuttall Memorial Hospital Kingston, Jamaica. After attending high school in Manhattan, New York, Peter joined the U.S. Navy in 1959 and served as a Boatswain’s Mate on the USS Topeka (CLG-8) Guided Missile Cruiser and was honorably discharged in November of 1965. After serving in the Navy, Peter attended the Brixton School of Building in London, England, where he spent what he would describe as a few miserable months of his life. After leaving London, Peter returned to the warm, tropical climate of Jamaica. Unwilling to return to Brixton, Peter met Phyllis Fay Perry at the Kingston airport. He was smitten, and realized he needed a job to attract Phyllis. This was the catalyst he needed that led to his lifelong career as an airline pilot, eventually becoming a Boeing 747 Captain and traveling the globe.

Peter completed flight school at Opa Locka Airport in Miami, Florida in 1966 and began flying commuter airplanes for Jamaica Air Service soon after. He married Phyllis Perry on July 22, 1966 and had two children with Phyllis, Debra (Debbie) Elizabeth, and Kirk Jason. Phyllis had two children of her own from a previous marriage, Donna Melhado, and Colette Melhado. After a few years with Jamaica Air Service, he began flying jets for Air Jamaica taking him on trips back to London, New York, Miami and many other destinations. Life in Jamaica was very good for Peter and his family. However, it was not to last. The government became unstable, and crime was unbearable. Peter decided in the late 1970’s it was time to leave Jamaica behind and seek his fortune elsewhere.

In 1978, Peter moved with Phyllis, Debbie, and Kirk to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and began flying for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia). He stayed in Jeddah for 10 years flying jets throughout the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. After leaving Jeddah, he worked briefly for America West Airlines in Phoenix, Arizona. He then worked for Japan Airlines (JAL), moving to Anchorage, Alaska in 1993. After a year in Anchorage, he moved again with Phyllis to the Big Island of Hawaii, living in Kona and Waikoloa. Peter retired from JAL in 2001 and moved with Phyllis to the Houston, Texas area. He enjoyed photography, investing money, collecting firearms, building and flying remote-controlled airplanes, woodworking, sailing, and spending time with his family.

Peter was predeceased by his parents Colin and Ivy, stepparents Rachael Nash and Herbert Barraclough, stepbrothers Michael and John Febles, and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, daughter Debbie and her husband Rich Boehning, son Kirk and his wife Wendelynn Nash, stepdaughter Colette Beaird, stepdaughter Donna and her husband Don May, sister Carolyn Pells and her three daughters, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A visitation for Peter will be held Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. A committal with military honors will occur Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038. A catered reception will occur Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 10710 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77038.