Longtime OFU leader, Charlie Nash, died July 14

OTTAWA, Ohio – The man whose name is synonymous with the Ohio Farmers Union, former executive director Charlie Nash, died July 14 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 72.

A Farmers Union member since 1954, Nash began his service in the Ohio Farmers Union in 1969 as an organizational director. He served as secretary/treasurer before becoming executive director.

Nash was elected OFU president in 1988 and as National Farmers Union vice president in 1996.

“Farmers Union and family agriculture lost a good friend and advocate,” said current OFU president Bob Clunk, who served as vice president under Nash. “It is the end of an era.”

Earlier this year, Nash received the National Farmers Union Meritorious Service Award.

A self-employed farmer, Nash was also an auctioneer and real estate broker. He was the chairman of the Putnam County Democratic Party for 20 years; executive board member of the Ohio State Central Committee and served on the Putnam County Board of Elections.

He is survived by sons, Clark and Charles E. Nash, both of Leipsic, Ohio; daughters, Cheryl Nash of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Crystal Nash of Los Angeles; nine grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Bowers, Pandora, Ohio.