Richard W. Nelson

1938 - 2016

Richard W. Nelson April 2, 1938 - December 23, 2016 Riverbank After a full life of fun, laughter and love, Richard (Dick) Nelson passed away peacefully in Riverbank, California.Dick was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He is survived by his loving wife, Roberta (Bobbie); a marriage that lasted 33 years. He is also survived by his daughters, Alice Jones & husband Kenny, Jill Silver & husband John, Leah Nelson, stepdaughters, Lynne McGovern & husband Darren and Andie Goldsworth. Stepchildren, Karrie, Mike, Kip and Matt Murphy. Grandchildren, John Broyles, Erin Wedeking, Courtney Geer, Jessi and Alec Silver, Bridget McGovern and Shannon Swayze. Great-grandchildren, Ian and Evan Wedeking, Britton Canales (and baby Weston). Nieces, Judy Bel & husband Jon and Rosemarie Nelson. Nephews, Ronnie, Larry and David Nelson...and Dingye Zhang, exchange student from China that made the Nelson home his for a year of his life. Dick had several careers in his lifetime. Thirty years with Safeway Stores in Southern California. Next he spent twenty years in the hotel industry, managing fifteen properties. But his fondest memories were of the Horton Grand Hotel in San Diego as the Director of Sales & Marketing and for the Courtyard Marriott and Residence Inn in Stockton, California.Dick was the youngest of four children born to Jess and Zona Nelson in Kingman, Arizona, and the only child in the family to be born in a hospital. Dick learned his work ethic from his father who was a carpenter. He gained valuable experience in the building trade which came in handy throughout his entire life. Dick could do many things and did them well and his achievements are too many to list. Suffice it to say, he had a sense of humor that was unequaled and he was a true craftsman and artist in his own right!Graveside services will take place Wednesday, January 4th at two o'clock, at El Camino Memorial, San Diego, CA 92121.