WALTER NELSON

Walter Thomas Nelson

Age 72, of Greensboro, NC, died Saturday, June 16, 2006, at his residence.

Thomas Nelson was born in Kilgore, TX on July 18, 1933 to the late Walter and Floy Chinn Nelson. Mr. Nelson attended elementary and high school in Kilgore and Kilgore Junior College where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa National Scholastic Fraternity. He then attended the University of Texas where he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1955 and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Following his graduation Mr. Nelson began his career with E.I. DuPont in Orange, TX. He joined the U.S. Navy, earning his wings on December 7, 1956 and flew AD5N aircraft, the last of the Navy's propeller driven dive bombers, off the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. Mr. Nelson received the Navy Commendation Medal for the rescue of crewmen from aircraft ditched at sea. He often described this period as 4 of the happiest years of his life. Following his military service. Mr. Nelson returned to DuPont and was transferred to their headquarters in Wilmington, DE. After several years as a mechanical engineer the company transferred him to Shreveport, LA as a salesman in their plastics division. Mr. Nelson later returned to Wilmington as a Profit Center Manager for the remainder of his career. He was had oversight responsibilities for products such products as Stren fishing line, Neoprene, Teflon and Nordel. Mr. Nelson retired from DuPont in 1990 and then began a career with FMC Corporation as a consultant. Thomas Nelson was an experienced pilot with over 3300 hours of flight time. In addition to his Navy career as a pilot he was also a commercial pilot certified in both single and multi-engine planes, as well as a certified instructor in primary, commercial, instrument, and acrobatic flying. In Greensboro, he was a faithful member of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist church. Thomas Nelson was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Johanna Johnson Nelson of the home; daughters, Paula Nelson of Summerfield, NC, Pamela Tsai and her husband, David, of Raleigh, NC and Patti Nelson and her husband, Brian Ault, of Elverson, PA; brothers, Robert Nelson of Kilgore, TX and Richard Nelson of Kerrville, TX; grandchildren, Alan Harrington and Sara Harrington; and great-grandson, Bryce Thomas Swanson.

The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 pm today, June 19th, at FORBIS AND DICK, North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC and other times at the residence. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, in Kilgore Cemetery, Kilgore, TX. A memorial service will also be held at a later date at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to either Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, 2600 Pisgah Church Road, Greensboro, NC 27455; or to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 650 West 168111 Street, New York, NY 10032.

Online condolences

may be sent to

www.forbisanddick.com

336-275-8408