Paul James Nelson

Born December 20, 1931, Paul lived his early years in Chicago, Illinois, with his brother Robert and his parents, Edgar Leonard Nelson and Nevada (Clary) Nelson. In his early teens the family relocated to Southern California, driving there on the fabled Route 66. Spending a short while in several cities they finally decided on Riverside, California, where his father and mother spent the rest of their years and are buried. Robert moved to Washoe Valley, Nevada, and in later years Plummer, Idaho. Paul finished high school in Riverside and soon after, during the Korean War period, joined the U. S. Navy. After two tours with the Navy, mostly stationed in Guam he began working for Pacific Telephone in Riverside. He worked for Pacific Telephone until his retirement in 1986. He married Shirley Diane Tomlinson 14 Sep 1957, and their daughter, Colleen Marie Nelson was born 30 Oct 1958. They divorced in 1961. Paul lived in Riverside until September 2000. After marrying his 2nd wife, Lou Hicks Richardson in November 1997, they relocated to Salem, Oregon. Paul was an active and diligent researcher of his family history for over forty years and amassed an amazing family history.

Paul was predeceased by his father, mother and brother. He leaves his wife in Salem, Lou Hicks Nelson, his daughter in Magnolia, Arkansas, Colleen Nelson Holt, two grandsons, four great-granddaughters, and numerous nieces, nephews.