David Lewis Nelms

1961 - 2025

David Lewis Nelms

March 6, 1961 - December 4, 2025

David Lewis Nelms, 64, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away at his home on December 4, 2025.

Born in Hopewell, Virginia, David grew up in an Army family. During his early years, he had the opportunity to live in North Carolina, California, Georgia, Texas, and the Panama Canal Zone. The family made many close and enduring friendships wherever they went, and David looked back on these experiences fondly. He graduated from Hopewell High School in 1979 before earning his Bachelor of Science in Geology from Virginia Tech in 1983.

David built a distinguished 35-year career as a hydrologist with the U. S. Geological Survey beginning in 1984 and served as the Senior Groundwater Specialist for Virginia from 2002 until his retirement in 2018. He was widely known for his innovative and wide-ranging research and for mentoring many young scientists. David published over 70 scientific articles during his tenure at USGS and was the principal author of the "Hydrogeology of Virginia" chapter included in The Geology of Virginia published by the Virginia Museum of Natural History in 2019. His work advanced understanding of Virginia's hydrogeology and will have a lasting impact on both the scientific community and environmental policy.

David was devoted to and cherished by his two children, who will remember his guidance, love, and steadfast support. His sense of humor and loyalty earned him many close friends. David loved being outdoors and was an avid gardener, growing a variety of vegetables and flowers. He delighted in sharing his backyard with a troupe of squirrels, which he hand-fed daily.

David is survived by his children, Lily Sullivan Nelms and Wilson Lewis Nelms (fiancée Mary Sarah Still); his sister, Marianne Nelms Macon (Edward); and his nieces, Lucy and Mariah Macon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Billie Aderholt Nelms and Walter Lewis Nelms.

A celebration of David's life will be held on Sunday, December 21, 2025, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in an open-house format at The James A. Buzzard River Education Center, 2825 Dock St, Richmond, VA 23223. The family invites all who knew him to attend and share their favorite memories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in David's memory to the Virginia Tech Department of Geosciences.