Nelson or Nellie (as he was dubbed by his cousin Chuck) was born in the home of his maternal grandparents, Hiram Riley and Stella Mae Kinnaman on November 13 1937. At the early age of six weeks, Nelson and his mother Louise and sister Velma Ruth took a trip to Tarrytown NY where his father Vernon was employed by General Motors Assembly Plant. The family returned to the farm at Rockwood in 1942, soon after a brother Daniel was born. That made a family of 5 living in 2 rooms. Nelson attended elementary school at Mineral City. After 1 year at Scotland, he attended Bloomfield High School and graduated in 1954. After high school Nelson was employed by the Concrete Silo Company then as an apprentice printer for the Evening World. He and Carol June Ferguson were married on Easter Sunday, April 1st 1956 at the Mineral church.
He left the printing field for while and took a job with the Victor Oolitic Stone Company. Then returned to the Silo Company, working in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. He then returned to printing, and attended the Linotype trade school in English Indiana where he learned the operation and maintenance of linotype machines. He was employed as a typesetter for a couple of local newspapers then worked for the Terra Haute Tribune Star where he stayed for 13 years. He began working for the United States Postal Service as a rural letter carrier in the winter of 1978. His first week as a rural carrier was during the “Blizzard of 1978”. He retired in 2010 after 33 years.
He managed the family farm (that has been in the Roach family since 1863) for 40 years. He raised feeder calves and harvested hay and other crops. The herd was originated from a heifer and purebred bull purchased in 1930.
He is a member of the Mineral United Methodist Church and the National Rural Letter Carrier Association Union.
He is proceeded in death by his grandparents, his parents Vernon Roy and Opal Louise, one sister Velma Ruth Roach Baird.
Survived by wife Carol June, two sons Dennis E., Conroe Texas and Dana M., Bloomfield, one daughter Denise R. Mathes (Mike), Bloomfield. He is survived by five grandchildren, Dena Louise and Michael Nelson, Texas, Jason Travis (Carman) Bloomfield, Kylie Wood (Evan) Bloomfield, Keith Bennett Bloomfield. He is survived by 4 great-grandchildren, Jade Roach (Conroe Texas), Ronan Roach, Jensen Roach, Evelyn Wood (Bloomfield).
Friends may call from 1 P.M. on Tuesday until the time of service at the Walnut Grove Church of God.
Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the Walnut Grove Church of God with Rev. Jim Roach officiating. Burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Online condolences and memories can be shared at www.jenkinsfuneralhomes.com.