Obituary: Nelson, Sandy Hilton
Age 90
NELSON, Sandy Hilton
Passed away peacefully at his home in Spokane surrounded by family on March 23rd, 2016.
He was born on July 22nd, 1925, the son of Omega Hilton Nelson and Bruce Valentine Nelson both of Marysville, Washington.
Sandy grew up during the 1930’s in Mount Vernon, WA, where his father owned a successful machine shop business.
Not many people had money, so bills were often paid with vegetables and salmon.
Sandy remembered that they ate well.
After high school, Sandy joined the US Navy where he served aboard the destroyer USS John W. Weeks (DD701) during WWII.
After the war, he met his true love and future wife of 66 years, Doris Greer.
He attended WSU and graduated in 1949 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
After serving as a lieutenant in the US Coast Guard, he returned to live and raise his family in Marysville and work in Everett in the telecommunications industry.
Summers were filled with family camping and backpacking trips in the Cascades, and clam digging, crabbing, and salmon fishing on Puget Sound.
He was a talented musician who loved to play jazz as well as church music.
He was a Ham Radio operator, a carpenter, an automobile mechanic, a wine maker, and a gardener.
He could fix anything.
He loved a good story and a good joke.
He had a dramatic conversion to Christ in middle age and was a devout and active member of his church thereafter.
Most importantly, he was a devoted and loving husband and father.
He is survived by his wife, Doris, daughters Diane Blaurock and Eileen Uebelacker, son Bruce Nelson, and brother Ben Nelson, as well as 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal church in Spokane on Saturday, 21 May 2016.
Donations in memoriam can be made to the St. Andrews General Fund (509) 325-5252.