La Grande, Ore.-based RV manufacturers, Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV (ORV), have announced that their founder and RV veteran Ron Nash passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning, Aug. 17. Nash along with his wife, Sherry, started Northwood, spawning the iconic RV brands Arctic Fox and Nash among others. Ron Nash then began Outdoors RV in 2009, growing it into a major player in the western U.S. and Canada RV markets as well.
Nash broke away from the mainstream RV community and started Northwood in 1993. Due to his strong vision and passion for the RV lifestyle and the people involved in it, Northwood products quickly became known for its high-quality components and construction. Nash insisted on quality first in a thoughtful, attractive package stating early that his RVs were and always would be, “the pretty one(s) in work boots.”
In 2010, amidst ongoing health issues, Nash turned over day-to-day management of both companies to his long-time management team but always maintained an active interest in their growth.
“It is impossible to put into words how Ron and Sherry have impacted our local Grande Ronde Valley community economically and culturally not to mention the RV industry as a whole,” said Craig Orton, CEO of Northwood Investments. “We will all miss him greatly, but his legacy will live on.”
“We at Northwood and ORV are a family – Ron and Sherry’s family,” said Northwood Investments CFO Cerise Smallwood. “We are committed to continue producing the highest quality, most rugged RVs in the marketplace. It was what Ron wanted and what Sherry continues to want. In this way, we will forever sustain his vision and his memory.”
The funeral is to be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, at the Lighthouse Church on 10501 West First Street in Island City, Ore.
The family asks that any condolence offerings be addressed to:
Loveland Funeral Chapel
1508 Fourth Street
La Grande, OR 97850
