Donald Don David Nelson , January 31, 1945 — April 14, 2018

Donald David Nelson, “Don”, 73, died peacefully on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at his home. Don was born on January 31, 1945 in the farmhouse where he grew up, in Westminster, MD. He was the son of the late Francis B. & Evelyn M. (Reaver) Nelson.

He married his high school sweetheart, Carol J. (Mann) Nelson. When they married, 52 years ago, they built a house on the family farm, raised a family & resided there for all their married lives. Don was a husband, a father, a grandfather,… Read More » an engineer, a pilot, a farmer and a proud Democrat.

He could literally build or fix just about anything. He worked for M.S. Willet in Hunt Valley after he graduated from the Carroll County Vo-Tech Center & worked there his entire career. He was a respected engineer & holds several U.S. Patents.

His “part-time job” was farming. Don came from a long-line of farmers & he worked the soil on the Nelson Family farm his whole life. Many days he could be found in the field, on his tractor, bailing hay & straw or planting soy beans and corn.

Once he got sick, he would drive around on his John Deere Gator and supervise his son, the next generation to farm, in doing the same. Don was an experienced pilot and had a Cessna 172. He spent many of his days at the Westminster Airport, either hanging out in the hangar or flying off to breakfast or lunch with friends.

In 1995, he flew a World War II T-6G, a 1946 Air Force plane, across the country, with his friend. In his younger years, he built and flew model radio-controlled planes and was a member of the Westminster Aeromodelers club. Surviving in addition to his wife, is his son, Brian Nelson and his wife, Tina; his daughter, Kimberly Rhoton and husband, David; his beloved grandchildren and other family members.

He is also survived by some of the best friends known to man, there by his side, even in his final hours. He was predeceased by his brother John Nelson and an infant son, Donald D. Nelson, Jr. The family will welcome friends on Wednesday, April 18 2018, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, 412 Washington Rd, Westminster. A service and celebration of his life will be at 2:00.

Internment will follow the service at Deer Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Don’s name to the Multiple Myeloma foundation, 383 Main Avenue 5th floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.

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