obituary from newspaper

WILLIAM BLEVINS NELSON

Duarte, California — William Blevins Nelson died on May 1, 2001, in Duarte, California. A memorial service was held at Westminster Gardens in Duarte, California, on May 14 at 10:00 a.m.

Survivors include his sister, Patricia Collins, son Mark Nelson, daughter Faith Cieslak, grandsons Robert Hack and Troy Cieslak, and great grandson Caelan Hack. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Alice Nelson and Margaret (Nelson) Mobley.

William Blevins Nelson was born on September 17, 1928, in Superior, Nebraska. He was the son of Dr. William Newton Nelson and Helen Jane Muir Nelson. He spent the majority of his formative years in Fillmore, California, where he was active in his church and the Boy Scouts and was an avid reader.

He graduated from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, with a bachelor's degree and completed his Bachelor of Divinity degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. He was ordained at the Fillmore United Presbyterian Church in 1954. He served as an ordained minister for the United Presbyterian Church until his retirement, serving churches in Urich/Creighton, Missouri; Rolfe, Iowa; Delta, Colorado; Live Oak, California; Morenci, Arizona; Idana/Oak Hill, Kansas: Ottumwa, Iowa; and Hawthorne, Nevada. Additionally, he was active as a volunteer fireman, in the Lions Club, and in many community programs.