Edward L. Nelson Jr.

Edward L. Nelson Jr., 76, of Columbia and Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at home, from battling metastatic bladder cancer for almost ten years. Born April 2, 1934, in Worcester, Mass., he was the son of the late Edward Sr. and Janet Love Nelson. He was the former husband of Patricia Hallaren, his wife until 1973. He was the companion of Kathy Shay. He was raised in Webster, Mass., where he graduated from Bartlett High School. After attending Yale University, he graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He later did post-graduate work in engineering at Columbia University. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He spent most of his career in the electrical engineering field, working for Hazeltine Corporation in New York, N.Y., and Singer Corporate in Bridgeport, Conn. In 1964 he and his family moved to Alexandria, Va., where he worked for Atlantic Research Corporation. The following year he joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation at the defense center in Linthicum, where he worked on several radar programs until his retirement in 1991. While at Westinghouse he meant his companion of the last 34 years. They moved to Berkeley Springs in 1983 where he built the inside of a cabin shell into a weekend getaway. He taught software computer packages for educational companies in Falls Church, Va., and Columbia for three years after retirement. He and his companion enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, especially trips to Myrtle Beach, S.C. He also enjoyed opera, symphonic music, singing, crossword puzzles, exploring new restaurants, computer projects, thriller TV series, sailing and photography. He mostly enjoyed all the time he spent in Berkeley Springs at the cabin. Surviving, in addition to his companion, are a daughter, Kristen Nelson, of Chevy Chase; son Mark Nelson and wife Maureen, of Bethesda; and grandsons Nicholas John and Alexander Luke Nelson. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Glyndon United Methodist Church, 4713 Butler Road Glyndon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Alano Club, AA affiliated, 9231 Rumsey Road, Columbia, MD 21045; or the American Cancer Society, 8219 Town Center Drive, Baltimore, MD 21236. Online condolences may be offered at www.eckhardtfuneralchapel.com. Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.