William Edrington Nelson

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "I am glad for my life," said Bill Nelson, who died Friday morning at age 68. One of the truly pure in heart was surrounded by family as he left this earth.

At various times of Bill's life, he was known as Willy Lump Lump, Bird, Twig, Mad Dog, Bring Um Back Alive Bill, Jukebox, D.O. and Snappy. A showman at heart, more than one of these names were self-designated. Each of these names brought joy to those who heard it.

Married to Pamela Hudson Nelson in 1968, they lived in Germany and Saudi Arabia, but Dallas has always been home. His boyhood home is Blytheville, where he graduated from Blytheville High and served as a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Bill claimed to live by the credo "minimum effort," but he had a funny way of showing it. Graduating from SMU with a BBA and MLA and from the University of Utah with an MBA, Bill kept learning every day. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force, worked for Texas Instruments, and launched and operated a startup computing company, Edrington Data, before completing his career as a monorail driver with the Dallas Zoo. In between, Bill found time to work as a local actor and musician, appearing in the NBC movie "Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald" and serenading visitors to the grand opening of the Ballpark at Arlington with his accordion.

Bill served at the Church of the Incarnation as a Stephen Minister, Godly Play teacher, and bass singer in the choir.

His favorite role was as father to two sons, Keith (and Julia) of Arlington, Va., and Charlie (and Michelle) of Carrollton, and as grandfather to Ava, Jack and Isabel. They were his team of champions, along with the Boston Red Sox.

Bill is also survived by a brother, Ray (and Ruby) Nelson of Beaumont, Texas, and a sister, Mary Gay (and Paul) Shipley of Blytheville. He is joining his parents, R.A. and Mary Blanche Nelson (deceased).

Many extended family and friends will miss his gentle wit.

Bill lived gracefully with a rare form of atypical Parkinsons called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy for 12 years. Faith Presbyterian Hospice made it possible for him to stay at home with his beloved wife, Pamela, providing his primary care.

A service is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204. Memorials may be given to the church.