Mrs Walter Nash Dies, Aged 81

Press, Volume C, Issue 29699, 18 December 1961, Page 16

Mrs Walter Nash Dies, Aged 81

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. The deatlh occurred on Friday evening of Mrs Lotty May Nash, wife of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Nash. She was 81. Before her marriage she was Miss Eaton, daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas Eaton,

of Selly Oak. near Birmingham. She was married at Selly Oak in 1906. and arrived tn New Zealand with her husband in 1909. Mrs Nash, though a modest and unassuming person, won respect and affection wherever she went, both in New Zealand and overseas. Until her health failed—she suffered from chronic arthritis for many years—

Mrs Nash took a prominent part in welfare work and women’s organisations. She was for 18 years a working member of the Plunket Society, and for eight years was actively associated with the Newtown Residential Nursery. She was also patron of the R.S. A. Women’s Auxiliary and vice-president of the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary. During the depression and World War 11. she held a working circle in her home and was for some time an active member of the Lady Galway Guild. The Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A., as well as the League of Mothers, also claimed her interest.

Mrs Nash accompanied her husband on several of his world trips, including visits to London to the Coronation in 1936 and again for the Coronation of the present Queen. Mr and Mrs Nash had three sons. The eldest, Walter, died of an illness in an Air Force camp during the war.

The second son. Leslie, lives at Napier. He is the secretary of the district diocese there. The third son. Jim, holds a senior position in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and lives at Lower Hutt. There are 10 grandchildren.

Mrs Nash’s funeral will be held at the Church of St. James, Lower Hutt. at 2 p.m. on Monday.