Donald Lee NUXHALL

News Death Notice

NUXHALL, Donald Lee age 78, a lifelong resident of Hamilton, Ohio passed away peacefully in his home at 2:30 AM on Friday July 27, 2012. He was born August 24, 1933 to Orville and Naomi (Gailey) Nuxhall. He was a 1952 graduate of Hamilton High School lettering all three years in football, basketball, and baseball. He was chosen on the football and basketball Ohio State All-Star teams his senior year. He was gifted athlete born into a family of gifted athletes. Upon graduation, among the many scholarships offered to him by colleges, he chose Indiana University on a football scholarship. He eventually transferred to Miami University, Oxford, Ohio and played basketball. In 1954 he was drafted into the United States Army and served his tour of duty in Japan from 1954-1957, continuing to play basketball, football, and baseball in the special services. He was a right hand pitcher and the Milwaukee Braves signed him to their minor league organization in Lawton, Oklahoma. His career was cut short by a pinched nerve in his pitching arm. He was inducted into the Butler County Softball Hall of Fame in 1984, the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Hamilton City School Athletic Hall of Fame in February, 2001. Donny or Nux, as his friends called him, was a standout softballer for the Wilsman Truckers, Tri State Masters, Joseph Chevrolet, and Mitchell Constructions teams. He often said that the rings and trophies he was fortunate enough to win never meant as much as the camaraderie he had with all the players. Besides the traveling teams, he also played senior softball with local teams. He was an electrician by trade and worked at Armco Steel and Wente Electric. He retired from Fisher Body, GMC, Fairfield, Ohio in July 1991 after 13.9 years. He loved working outside whether it was vegetable or flower gardening, or one of his many ongoing projects. He always wanted to provide outdoor activities for his children and grandchildren, from swimming pools, to ponies, to go-cart paths, to baseball batting ranges, and golf putting greens. He loved sports and wanted to pass it on to his kids and grandkids. He liked feeding birds and took in stray cats and dogs that found their way to the property. On November 27, 1954 he married Myra Blades in the First Church of God, Pleasant and Woodlawn Avenues in Hamilton, Ohio with the Rev. Walter Gatton performing the ceremony. They would have celebrated 58 years of marriage in November. Survivors include his wife, Myra; son Stephen or Marty Nuxhall of Franklin, TN.; daughter Jody (Kevan) Mueller of Bartlesville, OK; and son Kelly Nuxhall of Hamilton, Ohio; five grandchildren Matthew and Nathan Nuxhall of Franklin, TN.; Megan, Michael, and Emily Mueller of Bartlesville, OK.; brother Gene Nuxhall of Westlake, OH.; sisters in law Donzetta Nuxhall of Fairfield, OH.; Patricia Nuxhall of Hamilton, OH., and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Joseph and Robert Nuxhall, a sister Evelyn, and sister in law Juanita Nuxhall. Special thanks to the nurses and doctors of Ft. Hamilton/Kettering and Mercy Fairfield Hospitals, Hospice of Cincinnati, and the Wayne Township Fire Department. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Joe Nuxhall Hope Project, c/o Fairfield Community Foundation, 5350 Pleasant Avenue, Fairfield, OH. 45014.Visitation at the First Church of God 3100 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 on Saturday August 4, 2012 from 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 PM. Rev. Nathan Heady of the First Church of God will officiate, and honorary speaker Pastor Daniel Snider will also take part. Burial to follow with full military honors in Rose Hill Burial Park, 2421 Princeton Rd., Hamilton, Ohio 45011. THE WEBSTER FUNERAL HOME 3080 Homeward Way at Rt. 4, Fairfield is serving the family. www.websterfuneralhomes.com Telephone 513 942-3293