Obituaries

Wallace Nash Abrams

Photo of Wallace Nash Abrams
WALLACE NASH "BUSTER" ABRAMS departed earth to the great unknown on this date, Dec. 22, 2017. Born Sept. 9, 1923, to Charles Williams Abrams and Sybil Nash Abrams, he was a lifelong Methodist, attending First United Methodist Church and then, St. James United Methodist Church. Nash was educated in Little Rock public schools, Woodruff Elementary, Pulaski Heights Junior High and Little Rock Senior High. In high school, he was the first person, along with another wrestler, to win the Wrestling Championship for three straight years. He entered the Navy in January 1943 and served with the naval forces for three years during World War II, including two years in the South Pacific and the Philippines. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1951 with honors and served as President of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was also a member of Blue Key Honorary Society, Alpha Kappa Psi, and a charter member of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Society. Nash worked for 37 years for the Frank Lyon Company, never missing a day of work for being sick or injured. He was honored many times for being the outstanding national distributor of RCA, Whirlpool-Litton, Jenn-Air, Carrier and Bryant. He held offices of Vice-President of Sales and Marketing and Vice-Chairman of the Board. After enjoying successful sporting careers in golf and tennis, Nash took up running and competed in 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon races. In Arkansas Grand Prix racing format, he was usually able to win first in his age category. He completed two Dallas marathons and four Pike Peak ascents and one ascent and descent, finishing third in his age group. He was on his way to an age group record in 1994 when struck with altitude sickness. Nash also competed and won his age group in many triathlons and biathlons, and competed in many bike races around Lake Maumelle. After suffering a hip injury, he took up race walking and finished first in the National 5K Race walk championship in 1999 and third in the National Senior Olympics in Baton Rouge. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, he was the winner of the Little Rock Half-Marathon in his age division. Nash served as the first President of Arkansas Senior Olympics (after taking over from AAAs) for three years and on the Board for eight years. He located Senior Olympics in Hot Springs and still holds some state records in the Senior Olympics, winning the coveted Glen Cunningham Award one year. He was selected as one of the 21 individuals to carry the Olympic torch through the city of Little Rock, en route to Atlanta in May 1996. Nash was elected President of the Greater Little Rock Sales and Marketing Executives Association in 1972. The association's achievements earned for the Little Rock Association three out of four national awards presented in Las Vegas that year. He was the first Association President to reach out and accept female members, taking in ten the first year. Nash had a great interest in encouraging people to stay healthy and enjoy life more fully. For a short time, he had a television program on Channel 7 called Senior Fitness. Almost since its inception, Nash has served on the Governor's Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. He also served as a member of Baptist Health 55, Arkansas for a Healthy Coalition. Nash set out to help and pay back his city. He served on the City Beautiful Commission for six years and as chairman for two years. During his tenure, dramatic progress was achieved. He was selected as an executive on the Parks and Recreation Vision Team for two years. Nash is survived by his wonderful wife, Marilyn, and two loving and giving children, Tony Abrams and his wife, Gayle and Angela FiJo and her husband, Mark; daughter-in-law, Jenny Abrams. He is also survived by twelve wonderful, charming and brilliant grandchildren, Trevor Abrams, Trent Abrams, Ashley FiJo, Mark Allen FiJo, Alex Abrams, Bridget Strauss, Madison Hillman, Jack Hillman, Roxanne Chandler, J. P. Hopkins, Lorin Allison and John Murphy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sons, Randall Nash Abrams and Charles Steven Abrams and grandsons, Forrest Abrams and Beau Abrams, sister, Sybil Smith and brother, Charles "Mickey" Abrams. Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 26, from 6-8 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Services will be Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, officiated by Dave Woodman. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Nash's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Published December 24, 2017

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