John Thomas Nash, II, 85 of Gainesville, Texas passed away on February 26, 2024. He was born in Dallas, Texas to John Thomas Nash and Sadie Lucille Waters on June 21, 1938. John married Margie Huffman in Plano, Texas on November 15, 1986.
Master Nash was a medical corpsman in the Navy in 1958. He volunteered and was sent through the Marine Corp basic training (boot camp) at Camp Pendleton to get himself in condition for one of the hardest tests of endurance and training in his life. Master Nash was sent to train under 39-year-old Okinawan Eizo Shimabuku, 10th degree Black Belt (Red Belt) Grand Master of Shorin-Ryu Karate. He also trained for four years in Okinawa with Master Shimabuku, traveling on weekends to different military stations in the Far East teaching karate for the U.S. including American and Vietnamese advisors in Viet Nam and U.S. Special Forces. Master Nash left Okinawa and the Navy in 1962 to return to Dallas. He opened the National Karate Institute-the first karate school in Dallas. He had ten schools in Texas and instructed for ten years. Master Nash was the first American to teach Shorin-Ryu in the United States. He has received recognition by Black Belt Magazine in one of their articles titled “Pioneer of American Karate, Part II’.
Master Nash worked as a Sales Manager at Sysco Foods for many years until his retirement. John also owned Chappy’s Restaurant and video store and worked at the golf course at Winstar Casino. His hobbies included building dune buggies, riding motorcycles and playing golf. John’s many accomplishments were Texas Martial Arts HOF, US Karate Masters HOF and Life Saving Award at Lake Kiowa.
Master Nash is survived by his wife, Margie Nash; daughters, Angela Nash Ludwick and husband, Troy and Gwendolyn Nash Svoboda and husband, Brian; step daughter, Shana Peddicord; step son, Scott Huffman and wife, Cindy; grandchildren, Cameron Ludwick, William Barbee, Brett Peddicord, Rebecca Huffman, Matthew Huffman; sister, Jerry Roberts and husband, Jim; half-sister, Corinda King, several nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his parents, John Thomas and Sadie and brother, James Nash and half-sister, Sadie Lou Coleman
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Meador Funeral Home, 1204 E. California Street, Gainesville, Texas. Visitation will also be held at Meador Funeral Home from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Friday, March 1, 2024. Interment will be held at New Chatfield Cemetery, Chatfield, Texas.
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Dear Margie and Angie,
I am so sorry to receive the very sad news of the passing of your husband and father. He was a great inspiration and accomplished teacher to many of us and I am personally indebted or all he gave. Please accept my condolences on behalf of all of his students throughout the years that have benefited by your sharing his life with us.
May you find comfort and strength in the love you shared. The world is truly less today without this good man.
I wish to send my deepest condolences and prayers to John’s family , I pray you find strength to get through this, I pray you remember all the love he had for yall. I am grateful to have known him , sending love and sympathy from William and I , a great man, mentor , and father with a beautiful legacy .
John was one of the first friends I made after moving to Lake Kiowa. We bonded over our enjoyment of golf and poker. I always enjoyed seeing him, as his smile and fun attitude were contagious. I will miss you old friend. Keep it in the 3 foot circle.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS POOKIE… SEEMED LIKE A GREAT MAN WITH A FULL LIFE, INDEED… ON TO BIGGER, BETTER & FREER PASTURES IN PARADISE…. YOU’LL SEE HIM ONE DAY WAITIN FOR YA WITH A YUGE SMILE & A DAIQUIRI!!! GOOD BLESS
Blessings to John’s family. He was a friendly familiar face st Sysco Dallas. I’m sure he can round up those that went before him and have a reunion!
Sorry to here about john
So sorry for your loss
God be with you
Johnny was a friend for over 40 years,alot of great memories. RIP John T.