Obituary of Ronald K. Nelson

Ronald Kenneth Nelson, 78, of 606 Palmer St. passed away peacefully in his sleep at 10:12 p.m. Thursday (January 7, 2009) in his home. A lifelong area resident he was born October 16, 1931 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late Anton E. and Esther Emanuelson Nelson. Ron was a 1950 graduate of Jamestown High School and a 1957 graduate of Jamestown Community College. He was also a 1960 graduate of Kent State University and continued his education studing at the American Univesity in Washington, D.C. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from 1951 to 1955, sailing aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin B.B. 64 to Korea, Japan, the Far East, England, Scotland and France. He survived being hit by enemy fire aboard the Wisconsin while in Korea. In earlier years he was employed by the Chautauqua County Probation Department at the time family court was established and served as Supervisor of the Jamestown probation office. He was later employed as a pharmaceutical salesman for G.D. Searle and Company, employed in the sales department for Marlin Rockwell Corporation and was a sales manager for Volkswagon of Jamestown. He was currently employed as a cleaning specialist for Anderson Cleaners for the past several years. Ron was a member of the Mt. Moriah Lodge # 145 Free and Accepted Masons, the Ingjald Lodge # 65 Independent Order of the Vikings, the War Vets Recreation Club, the AARP and was a life member of the Bemus Point Post # 557 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a former member of the Jamestown American Legion Fife & Drum Corp and the Kharaam Grotto Bag pipe Band. He was active in the Jamestown All America Cities Campaign and was chairman of the celebration parade when Jamestown received the distinction of being designated and "All American City". He was also a memberof the former Mayor's Citizen Advisory Committee and of the Jamestown Transit Commission. Surviving are two daughters Toni Nelson Huff of Tallahassee, FL, Tina Nelson Nagle of Melbourne, FL, two sons R. Todd Nelson of Chicago, IL, R. Toby Nelson of Jamestown, five grandchildren Philip Nyman of CO, Gregg Widrig, Melissa Williamson, Danielle Nelson all of Jamestown, Erica Widrig of Tampa, FL, three great grandchildren Kylee, Sydnee, Aubree Williamson and a sister Dorothy Luce of CA. He will also be remembered byhis close friend MaryJayne Prince and her family. He was preceded in death by his wife the former Janet Ellsworth Nelson whom he married September 26, 1953 and who died August 19, 1996 and three brothers Leonard, Malcom and David Nelson. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.