Philip Nelson

Lewis C. Nelson 1920-2011

L to R: Clara "Nanny" Nelson, Amanda Nelson, Lewis "Pop Pop" Nelson, Riley Nelson (Niece), Philip Nelson, Noel Nelson, Natalie Nelson, Sage Nelson, Chase Nelson (Nephew), Phil Nelson

Services for Lewis C. Nelson, 91, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Homer, LA, on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. Burial will follow at the Arlington Cemetery in Homer.

Visitation will be at the Rose Neath Funeral Home in Homer on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Mr. Nelson was born in Grand Junction, CO, on January 30, 1920. The son of Claude and Myrtle Nelson, he spent his early childhood on a ranch in the Little Delories area of Glade Park, CO. His family moved to the Appleton area near Grand Junction where he attended the Appleton school from the seventh thru twelth grades, graduating in 1937. He attended Western State College where he received his private pilot’s license through the civilian pilot training program.

In the fall of 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Upon graduating from flight school in Sept 1941, he was married to his childhood sweetheart, Clara Feiler on December 26, 1941. He was assigned to the flight test section of the Army Air Corp, primarily at the Lockheed Aircraft Factory in Burbank, CA.

In 1945, he was replaced by Major Ira Bong who was the all time leading ace for the military. This was to have tragic consequence, as Major Bong was killed a few weeks later flight testing a P-80 Jet aircraft.

Upon discharge in 1946, Mr. Nelson returned to Lockheed Aircraft and worked on the test program of the P-80 until the completion of the contract. He moved to El Dorado, AR, in 1948 and worked for McMillian Petroleum, Lion Oil Co., and Murphy Oil Co., where he spent twenty seven years, fifteen years as manager of the aviation department.

He retired in 1983 and moved to Lake Claiborne and later to Arcadia, LA. He enjoyed fishing, boating and traveled extensively in their motor home. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as deacon and elder for many years.

The pride of his life was his family. He is survived by his wife Clara of 69 years; two sons, Robert Lewis Nelson and wife Mary of Lake Claiborne, LA, and Philip Noel Nelson and wife Donna of Monroe, LA; and a daughter Patricia Ann Campbell of Lafayette, LA; eight grandchildren and nineteen great grand children.

Pallbearers will be Robert L. Nelson, Jr., Jon Robert Nelson, Craig Campbell, Philip Nelson, Jr., Jay Nelson, Dan French and Chris Biggerstaff.

Special Thanks from the Nelson family to Homer Memorial Hospital, HealthSouth and Dr Sam and Camille Abshire, Dr Moore and Dr Clint Bulter.

In lieu of flowers, please give to the First Presbyterian Church in Homer or the Japan relief fund.

Nanny & Pop Pop with the grandkids.. I'm not in it because i'm the photographer. 🙂