David Nelson

Husband and father, David Alexander Nelson, 93, - Army Sergeant Major “Ret.”, of Pensacola, FL., formerly of Shippensburg passed away after a short, but hard fought battle with illness on July 23rd, 2011.

He was born on January 26, 1918, in Jugtown, Pennsylvania. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Army and was in the First Infantry Division, 5th Field Artillery. During World War II, he fought in every campaign of the Big Red 1, from North Africa, Tunisia, and Sicily, to D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and on the border of Czechoslovakia. He was also part of the occupation force of Japan until the outbreak of the Korean War where he served and fought with the 29th Field Artillery. He retired from the Army in 1959 and then sold real estate and worked for and retired from the United States Postal Service. For the last 12 years, he worked at Walmart on Hwy. 98, past Gulf Breeze, as a greeter, where he was well-loved by his employers and the customers.

He is preceded in death by his father, William P. Nelson, his mother, and beloved step-father, Eleanor and Frank “Pap-Pap” Miller, brothers Jim and Frank Nelson, sister, Catherine Lemon and grandson, Ryan Flowers.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gladys G. Nelson, stepson, Terry Reed, stepdaughters, Joan Flowers, and Kay Flowers, son, David A Nelson Jr., and daughter, Dolores Barnett. In-laws, Yvonne Reed, Esley Flowers, Lawrence Flowers, Vicky L. Nelson, Herb Barnett, Kristina Flowers, and Sylvia Barnett. His grandchildren, Ty Reed, Edward E. Flowers III, Eric Flowers, Stephanie Lynne Nelson, Zac and Catherine Barnett, and great-grandchildren, Alicia Whitford, and Zoe Barnett.

We give our thanks and love to Covenant Hospice, the nurses at Sacred Heart on the 5th floor, particularly Juanita, the employees of Walmart on Hwy. 98, and Rose Lawn Funeral Home, in Florida. All of you have made this terrible loss a little easier to endure.

David will be laid to rest, with military honors conducted by the Shippensburg Area Veterans Council, at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, July 29, 2011, in the Spring Hill Cemetery, Shippensburg. He was well-loved and will always be greatly missed. The Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Inc., has been entrusted with his local funeral arrangements.