Keith J. Nash

Keith Nash, 82, a respected and admired decorator and house painter for over fifty-two years has died. His death was due to cancer, diagnosed 11 years ago and yet Keith never lost faith.

Keith died at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at his home on 900 Bailey Street, Plymouth. His family was by his side.

Born in Walkerton, Ind., on June 28, 1921, the son of Cornelius H. and Laura Mae Bolenbaugh Nash, he was a Plymouth resident since 1939 coming from Warsaw. He graduated with the class of 1938 from Madison Township High School, Mishawaka.

‘Grandma Hattie Xaver’ had her hand in the meeting of Keith and her daughter Phyllis, making sure that a wedding was in the forecast. The pair’s first date was pre-arranged at the Sky High Skating Palace in South Bend. She was 17 and he, 19 years old. A year later, on November 11, 1941, Phyllis M. Xaver and Keith were married in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Plymouth. During their early years together, they enjoyed skating at the Plymouth Skating Palace.

He was an Aviation Radioman in the United States Navy during W.W.II, serving until 1946.

He tried factory work at Studebaker and McCords after the service, but didn’t care for it. He worked for Schlosser Brothers Creamery and then got a job at Volperts Hardware and started house painting, inside and out. As a painting contractor, Keith was also a friend to many people. He would take folks to the airport when they were traveling and visit, on many occasions, patients in the hospital, when they were ill.

“I never bid a job,” he said, in a newspaper interview. “I do what has to be done at a fair price.” Customers would be on a waiting list for months to get his services.

Keith worked for the past 25 years with his son Kevin. He continued serving his loyal customers up until this past year when his health worsened.

Keith was a true handyman. He could fix anything, including carpentry, woodworking projects and electrical tasks. He liked to cook and was good at it. He enjoyed helping around the house and “mostly,” he said, “spending time with my wife.”

For 15 years the couple spent winters in Florida. He said he wasn’t fond of raking leaves or shoveling snow, but the last seven winters, they stayed home.

Keith was a Communicant at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church and a former member of the Plymouth Moose Lodge.

Keith is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and by their four daughters, one son, twelve grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

His children, all of Plymouth, are: Carol A. and Bruce Warner; Jeanne M. and Byron White; Linda J. and Al Myers; Sue Ellen Nash and Kevin J. Nash.

Four brothers survive as well. They are: Gail Nash, Warsaw; J. Dwight and Marlene Nash, Kentwood, Mich.; Neal Nash, South Bend, and Bob Nash, Florida.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Max Nash, a brother killed in WWII and Susie Wade, a sister. Infant granddaughter Renee Lynn has also died.

Visitation will be held from 10 – 11 a.m. Tues. Sept. 16, 2003 in St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 412 N. Center St. Plymouth. A memorial service will follow in the church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Father John Schramm officiating.

Interment will be in St. Thomas Church Columbarium.

Memorial gifts may be made to Marshall Co. Hospice, St. Thomas Church or Plymouth St. Joe Cancer Clinic.