Robert Louis Nelson

Robert Louis Nelson, 92, of Valdosta, died on Friday, July 4, 2014 at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born Jan. 16, 1922 in Paducah, Kentucky, a son of the late Jesse Fields Nelson, Sr. and Gertrude Shoemaker Nelson. He graduated from Heath High School in McCracken County, KY and then joined the US Navy and was stationed on the battleship- USS West Virginia when Pearl Harbor was attacked. As a Fire Control Officer in the 16 inch main guns on the ship, he went on to participate in the battles at Midway, Coral Sea and Guadalcanal. Having survived two ship sinking's during these conflicts, he began wearing a flotation ring all the time aboard ship. The Navy sent him to college in Missouri and he was discharged as a Lieutenant JG in 1959. Mr. Nelson then went to work for Union Carbide Corporation and helped build Minuteman Missile silos in South Dakota before moving back to Paducah briefly and then to Oak Ridge, TN where he worked for many years as Director of Animal Facilities. He retired from Union Carbide after 20 years. He continued working in this area of animal research as a consultant for several years after retiring from Union Carbide. After his permanent retirement, the Nelsons moved to Trenton, Ga for several years and then in 1999, to Dasher, GA. He was a member of Dasher Church of Christ.

Survivors include a daughter, Lois N. Cox, and son and daughter in law, David L. and Sheryl Nelson all of Dasher; daughter and son in law, Robbie J. and Danny DeRamus of Searcy, AR, son, John R. Nelson of Montrose CO; grandchildren, Anne Marie (Brian) Bohlman of Lake Placid FL, Erin M. Cox of Santa Cruse, CA, Zachary L. (Lindsey) Nelson of Atlanta, Cale D. Nelson of Greenville, SC, Chaeli E. Nelson, , Benjamin E. Nelson all of Dasher, Rebecca J. DeRamus, Kimberly C. DeRamus, Jason R. DeRamus all of Searcy, AR, Jacob Nelson of Phoenix, AZ, Arianna Nelson of Honolulu, HI, Moses Nelson of Lamoure, CA; three great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Anna B. Nelson, two sisters, Gladys Louise Gutleben, & Mary Ann Labourdette and a brother, Jesse Fields Nelson, Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at Dasher Church of Christ. Mr. Philip Guthrie will officiate. Burial will follow at Dasher Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Carson McLane Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 5 – 7 p.m. Carson McLane Funeral is serving the family of Mr. Nelson. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home



Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602