Dr. John Franklin Nelson

His parents were John Harold and Esther Louise Nelson, who lived on a farm near the small southern Idaho town of Buhl. John attended Buhl Public Schools through high school and participated in sports, dramatics, music, FFA, and many other activities. He was inducted into The National Honor Society and graduated in 1952. John attended the University of Idaho for three academic years and was accepted at that time to attend the University of Minnesota College of Dentistry commencing in the fall of 1955. While at UI, John was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and held several offices in the fraternity. He participated in many intramural sports and campus activities and enjoyed the Greek Society. He was on the dean's honor roll every semester and attained membership in several scholastic honor societies. While at UMinn, John received his BS with Honors and his DDS with Honors. He held several class offices, including class vice president on two occasions and was inducted into the national dental honorary: Omicron Kappa Upsilon. He was a member of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity and held fraternity offices while living in the house.

While in dental school, he experienced, as he described it, the most important and momentous event of his life: meeting his wife of 63 years, Josephine Ellen Lillehei, a dental hygiene student from Port Orchard, Washington. They were wed on August 17, 1958, after her graduation with honors from the University of Minnesota. Fulfilling a scholarship obligation to the US Army Dental Corps, he entered active duty and served for three years as a dental officer, after which he went into general dentistry practice in Gig Harbor, Washington. He then re-entered the US Army Dental Corps and served on active duty until his retirement at the rank of Colonel in 1980. While on active duty, he was stationed in many assignments in the continental US, including Fort Lewis, Fort Hood, Sacramento, Washington, DC, and overseas including Germany, Hawaii and was a Unit Commander in the Republic of Vietnam during the conflict.

He spent one year in a residency program at The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. His last assignment was at the United States Army Institute of Dental Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as mentor of the US Army Oral Pathology Residency program. While on active duty, he completed residencies in both Oral Medicine and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and became Board Certified in both specialties. He also received a MED degree in Advanced Education from The George Washington University and was inducted into both Tte International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. He received several medals including the Legion of Merit With Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation medal and other service medals.

After his retirement, Dr. Nelson accepted an appointment as a Full Professor of oral diagnosis and pathology at the University of Iowa College Of Dentistry. While on that faculty, he was selected as Teacher of the Year by the student body. He also represented the dental college in the University of Iowa Senate. In 1984, Dr. Nelson accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology at Baylor College of Dentistry and subsequently became Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and then Associate Dean.

He retired in 1994 and was awarded Emeritus status. Dr. Nelson lectured extensively in the US and abroad throughout the years and authored over 60 papers, abstracts, book chapters and co-authored a book. He was a life long member of The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and served on the Executive Council. He remained active in the College of Dentistry on a consultation basis and conducted numerous health fairs in the Metroplex through the post-retirement years. He and his wife have long been collectors of dental, Civil War and sports antiques and memorabilia and they very much enjoyed traveling the world together in the post retirement years. Dr. and Mrs. Nelson have been members of The First United Methodist Church of Richardson.

Dr. Nelson is preceded in death by his parents, John Harold Nelson and Esther Radcliffe Nelson. He is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Josephine “Jo”, son John Michael Nelson (Jacquelyn), daughter Suzanne Staner Koyle (Patrick), grandson James Richard Nelson (Ally Hyatt), granddaughter Amy Elizabeth Nelson, granddaughter Alyssa Ellen Staner, grandson John Matthew Staner, grandson Robert Tyler Staner, granddaughter Abigail Grace Koyle, great-granddaughters Rowan Hyatt-Nelson and Edie Hyatt-Nelson, sister Virginia Schoenwald, several nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friends.

Burial at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery will be held at 9:30 am on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.

Memorial Services at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home Chapel will be held at 11:30 am on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Nelson family.