Benjamin Franklin Nelson

NELSON Benjamin Franklin Nelson, age 92, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2011, at Mount Carmel East. He was born in Chicago on November 11, 1918, to the late Nels and Erna Nelson. Ben proudly served our country as a navigator in the US Navy. He was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, and he retired in 1984 from AT&T after 43 years of service. He was also a life member and past commander of VFW Post 7181 in Forest Park, Ill. He enjoyed gardening and woodworking, and he also loved to travel, especially on cruises and to Palm Springs and Las Vegas. Ben is survived by his wife of 69 years, Phyllis Nelson; children, Rick (Dianne) Nelson, Sandra (Richard) Wagy, Kathleen Hopkins, Sue (Wes) Wenger, Jim (Lori) Nelson, and Patti Nelson; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Nancy Schnurstein and Marilyn Thompson; and several nieces; and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings Margaret, Anna, Emma Jean, John, Lorraine, and Arlene, and son-in-law Ted Hopkins. Family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at the SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL, 1051 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 35 E. Stanton Ave., Columbus, with Pastor John Stroup officiating. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions made to the Central Ohio Parkinson Society, 2800 Corporate Exchange Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43231. Visit www.schoedinger.com to leave condolences.