Harry Joseph Nash, 80, of 179 Schaeffer Rd. in Cornwall, passed into eternal life early Sunday morning, Jan. 31, 2021, after a prolonged and valiant battle with Covid-19, complicated by Leukemia. Born Sept. 14, 1940 in Lebanon, PA, he is the beloved son of the late Harry R. and Mary Aurentz Nash.
Harry valued education and had a strong work ethic, instilled from his own parents. He started as an Able-Bodied Seaman on Sun Oil tankers, then served in the U.S. Army, first as a member of the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and then as a helicopter mechanic, proudly serving in Korea and Vietnam. He went on to provide for his own family, working over 25 years at ALCOA, beginning as a mill operator, while he advanced his education as an apprentice in industrial electronics, attending night classes and various seminars and home studies. From there, Harry worked another 17 years with Hershey Food Corporation, until his well-deserved retirement in 2009. His service didn’t stop there; in his retirement, he volunteered as a driver for disabled veterans through the VA hospital. He loved supporting those who served our country. A devoted family man, Harry married his beloved wife, Mary Mohl Nash – “my Mary” – in 1969, and together they raised six children, imparting a love of faith, family, and education. Harry is known for his avid love of reading and cheering on his football teams (We Are! and Go Cowboys!).
Harry had a great appreciation for the outdoors and spent time with his family and friends hiking, geocaching, and hunting. Most important to Harry was his steadfast Catholic faith; he and Mary sacrificed to give all six of their children a Catholic education at Lebanon Catholic. He was privileged to be part of the class of ’58 and was a loyal supporter of the ‘school on Assumption Hill’ and Catholic Education in Lebanon. Harry and Mary and their family were active members of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cornwall, where Harry was honored to be a lector, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, an active member of the Holy Name of Jesus Society, and a prayer warrior in the Rosa Mystica prayer group.
Harry was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, where he served terms as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator and, in so doing, defended life and Catholic education alongside his fellow Knights including his son, son-in-law, and grandson. Along with his parents, Harry is preceded in death by his siblings, Veronica Nelson, Mary Zulick, James Nash, and infant sister, Kathleen, several brothers- and sisters-in-law, an infant niece, several nephews, and his father- and mother-in-law, Andrew and Eva Mohl.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Mohl Nash, his children, Marilyn Nash (Tacoma, WA), Pattie Nash (Lebanon, PA), Kathleen Hatzfeld, and husband, Jeff (Lebanon, PA), Deb Waters, and husband, Steve (Lebanon, PA), Harry A. Nash, and wife, Missy (Lititz, PA), and Beckie DiPasquale, and husband, Jon (Arlington, VA), his grandchildren, Nathan, Samantha, Sydney, Riley, Jeffrey Cooper, MacKenzie, Cassidy, Harry Lew, Patrick, Elle Jo, and Colbie, and his siblings, Theresa Taylor, Bernadette Fernsler, Rita Newell, and husband, Tom, Cely Daullary, and husband, Ken, John Thomas, and wife, Carol, Joseph, and wife, Marie, and Joany Haberle, and husband, Larry, brother-in-law, Dave Zulick, sisters- and brothers-in-law, Dot Mohl, Marilyn and Tony Mohl, Eva and George Dishong, and Teenie Mohl, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He will be deeply missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the convenience of his immediate family and he will be laid to rest in Holy Savior Cemetery with full military honors. A more inclusive memorial service will be planned for extended family, friends, and community when it is safe to do so. In support of his granddaughter, Sydney Belle, memorials may be made to the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA, 1501 Reedsdale St., Suite 3002, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. https://www.eawcp.org/give/Give.xml
Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with the arrangements. Please share your memories with the family at our online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com
