Robert L. Nelson, Cdr (Usn Ret.)

Commander Robert L. Nelson (USN - Ret.) was born in 1927 to Walter and Sylvia (Graham) Nelson in Kansas City, MO in what we know today as a tiny home, complete with outdoor plumbing. He studied well and received a perfect attendance record in high school. With WWII underway, he studied at junior college for a year, then joined the Merchant Marines at age 18, traveling to Japan and England / France post war. He later finished his two-year degree in technical design and then decided on a career in the Navy and flight school, Pensacola FL. Robert obtained his wings and dabbled in amphibious, then lighter than air (blimp) assignments before returning to Pensacola to train cadets in flight. To maintain his flight-hour proficiency, Robert was permitted to fly training planes to Kansas City, where he met his sister’s friend Norma Prawitz – dating and then soon marrying her in her family hometown of Pilger, NE in June of 1956. After several duty assignments (FL, CA, HI, CA) Bob and Norma had 3 children in tow: Brian, Kimberly and David. Robert taught NROTC at Marquette U. before assignment in Rota, Spain and transferred back to the US east coast in NJ/NY and finally RI where he retired at the closure of Quonset Pt. operations. Upon retirement from the Navy, Robert obtained his MBA from URI and taught math and Basic computer language at local colleges (Roger Williams and Bryant). Ever a project guy, in retirement Robert was tapped by his kids for home projects. In 1992, Robert and Norma became grandparents. By 1997, Norma passed away and Robert became involved with First Lutheran Church, where he was tasked with church repairs and to drink lots of hot chocolate on Tuesday mornings. He was a pillar in the church, a very quiet pillar. His family meant the world to him, and his quick wit will be sorely missed. We wish to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Kent Hospital for heroic efforts to repair his aortic aneurysm, and to his dedicated personal doctor, Hub Brennan. Robert was preceded by our mom, Norma and his sister Shirley (Don) Applebaugh and leaves Brian Nelson (Flori), Kimberly Nelson DVM (Audra Jaconetti), David Nelson (Martine), three grandchildren, Evan, Nicolas, and Sara, and one great grandson, Cameron Robert Nelson. Funeral service Monday December 23rd at 9:30 am at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 118 Division St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Calling hours: Sunday December 22nd will be held from 4-6 pm in the Hill – Skeffington Funeral Home and Cremations, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to a local cause to help feed the homeless.