Robert Nash

Rev. Robert C. Nash, who served as vicar general of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston for 28 years, died July 31, 2012 at the age of 88. He was born in Huntington, W.Va., on Feb. 2, 1924, to C.J. and Agnes Rose Nash, the second of five children.

Father Nash is a 1941 graduate of St. Joseph Central Catholic High School in Huntington. He received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore in 1948 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1948, by Archbishop John J. Swint at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, W.Va. Father Nash served in both parish ministry and diocesan administrative services. In 1948, he was appointed associate pastor of All Saints Parish in Bridgeport, W.Va., and its missions St. Francis Borgia, Anmoore, St. Mary, Rosemont, Sacred Heart, Brownton, Little Flower, Galloway, St. Joseph, Wendel, and St. Elizabeth, Philippi. From 1955 to 1958, he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salem, W.Va.; St. Patrick Parish in West Union, W.Va.; St. Joseph Parish in Pennsboro, W.Va.; and St. William Parish in Cairo, W.Va. From 1958 to 1968, he served as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Star City, W.Va. and St. Ursula Parish in Pursglove, W.Va.

Father Nash was appointed vice chancellor of the diocese in 1968 and then as chancellor in 1976. He was appointed vicar general of the diocese and vicar for religious for the diocese in 1969. He was a member of the Diocesan Finance Council and served as a diocesan consultor. He served as president of the National Conference of Vicars for Religious from 1986 to 1990 and was a member of the Canon Law Society of America, the Society of American Archivists and the United States Catholic Historical Society.

Upon retirement from diocesan assignments in June 1997, Father Nash moved to Deltaville, Virginia to be near family members. He was part of the parish families of the Church of the Visitation in Topping, Va. and the Church of Francis de Sales in Mathews, Va., and provided pastoral assistance at those two churches as well as at other parishes in the Tidewater and Richmond, Va. areas.

Father Nash is survived by his many loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and sisters-in-law, and will be missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to the Church of the Visitation.

Friends may pay their respects to Father Nash from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 3, at the Church of the Visitation at 8426 General Puller Highway (Route 33) in Topping. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Robert Cummins at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 4, at the Church of the Visitation.

On Tuesday, August 7, a Solemn Visitation will be held for Father Nash from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cemetery Chapel at Mount Calvary, 1685 National Road, Wheeling, WV. At noon, the Concluding Rites of Commendation will be celebrated, followed by his burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

All are welcome to the services for Father Nash.