David William Nix, Jr

AIKEN, SC- DAVID WILLIAM NIX, JR., 88, beloved husband of Pasty Kay Nix, died Friday, December 13, 2013 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 AM Monday, December 16, 2013 in the Shellhouse Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. George Howle and Rev. John Kay officiating. Interment with military honors and Masonic rites will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be grandchildren and Chris Hinds and Wayron Kersey. Born in Blount County, Tennessee where he was a member of the Middlesettlements Methodist Church. He left Tennessee in 1942 to enter the U. S. Navy. He sailed from Newport News, Virginia, on the aircraft carrier USS Exxex (CV-9) to Hawaii where he transferred to the destroyer USS Bradford (DD-545) for the remainder of his service in the Pacific theater. He discharged from the U.S. Navy in May 1946 as a Machinist's Mate Second Class. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, discharging in 1960 as a Technical Seargent (TGST). His service in WW2 was a source of pride and he cherished the memories of the time with his fellow sailors. Following the war, he was employed as a machinist at R. G. Letourneau in Toccoa, Georgia and moved to Aiken, SC in 1953 to work for E. I. DuPont for the construction and operation of the Savannah River Plant. He was a master machinist for DuPont and manager in the maintenance department, retiring in 1990. In the 1960s, he was co-owner of Aiken Tool & Die machine shop near Six Points on Vaucluse Road. He was a Master Mason (32nd Degree) and member at the Aiken Lodge, where he was recognized as an Honorary Past Master in 2001. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty years, Patsy Kay Nix and four children, David (Janice) Nix, Harry (Debbie) Nix, Pam May and adopted son Porter May, and Shannon Nix. There are four grandchildren Jesse Nix; Joseph Nix with daughter Piper Joanne Nix; Brian Clark (Kristin) with daughter Adeline Raleigh Clark; and Heather Clark; two step grandsons Chris (Erica) Hutson with children Eric, Christian, and Anderson; and Rusty (Melissa) Hutson with children Hunter and Chance In addition to his parents, Mr. Nix was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Jeffries and a brother, Edward Nix. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. John’s United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St., NW, Aiken, SC 29801 or the charity of one’s choice. Friends may call this Sunday evening from 5 until 7 PM at SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC. Visit the online registry at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of David William Nix, Jr, please visit our flower store.