Edward M Nelson

Edward M "Ed" Nelson, Jr., died peacefully in Austin, Texas on Saturday, May 16, 2015. At his bedside providing loving care and comfort were his daughter, Deborah and his granddaughter, Emily. Edward was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy, who died in April of this year.

Ed is survived by his son, Edward; daughter, Deborah; grandchildren, Alex Nelson, Charlie Nelson, Emily Austin and Travis Austin; and great-grandchild, Barrett Nelson. Ed was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the son of Edward and Florence Nelson. He was a mechanical engineering graduate of The University of Texas and a Registered Professional Engineer.

Ed served his duty to the United States during World War II initially as a Naval enlistee, then in transfer to the United States Merchant Marine where he served as Second Assistant Engineer on T-2 tankers sailing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1954.

His engineering career began with DuPont and Rohm & Haas and then, beginning in 1961, 25 years with J. Ray McDermott, the oil services engineering firm. Assignments with McDermott included many years living with his family outside the United States---in Holland, Lebanon, England and Belgium---while serving as project engineer at company facilities in the Middle East and Europe. Consulting interests after retirement led to trips into China, Hong Kong and Brazil.

In Austin, Ed served on the Board of Directors and for a period as Treasurer of Vaughn House, a non-profit organization providing opportunities to multi-disabled deaf adults. He and his wife also volunteered time riding along, and providing clothing and food for, Riverbend Church's Mobile Loaves & Fishes Ministry.

In lieu of flowers as a remembrance to Ed, the family is requesting donations in his name be made payable to Riverbend Church by check, specifically designating the Mobile Loaves Ministry as the beneficiary. (By mail: Riverbend Church, 4214 North Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, TX 78746) and to Vaughn House, 1701 Evergreen Avenue Austin, Texas 78704.

At 1 pm on Saturday, June 6, 2015, friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life service for Ed in the Smith Chapel at Riverbend Church.

The family wishes to thank the CICU staff of Austin Heart Hospital for their generous, loving care of Ed during his final days on this good earth.