Eldon Nelson

He was born on November 26, 1920, in Clearfield, the son of Ai William and Pearl (Miller) Nelson.

Mr. Nelson attended the Clearfield schools.

He was a coal miner for his uncle Arnold Nelson, worked as a floral designer for Collins’ Greenhouse and a metal-worker in construction in D.C. before being called to serve in the United States Army.

Mr. Nelson, was a veteran having served as a Sergeant in the 380th Combat Engineering Company A., was in WW II in the Philippines and occupational Army of Japan. He received the Good Conduct medal, WW II Victory Ribbon, Army Occupation Medal, Asiatic –Pacific Theater Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

After returning from the war, Eldon worked as an offset-journeyman pressman for Kurtz Brothers for 38 years before retiring in 1985.

He was a member of the Christian Missionary & Alliance Church of Clearfield where he served on the Board of Directors and as an elder. Prior to that Eldon was a trustee and deacon at the First Baptist Church of Clearfield. Eldon was known as a spiritual leader to family and friends.

Eldon was an avid gardener and well known for sharing his harvest with family and friends. In his younger years, he enjoyed sports such as hunting, ice skating and baseball. He also enjoyed baking pies, cookies, fruit cakes and zucchini bread.

He is survived by four children Darlene Leonard and her husband, Dale, of Albuquerque, NM, Cheryl Robison and her husband, Chuck, of Clearfield, David Nelson and his wife Judy, of Glen Richey and John Scott Nelson and his wife Sharon, of Harrisburg, ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, a brother, Kenneth Nelson and his wife Betty, four sisters; Shirley Lansberry, Jane Shugarts and her husband Max, Carol Catherman and her husband James and Ruth Bock and her husband, William all of Clearfield, three sister-in-laws; Janet Nelson and Dorothy Nelson, of Clearfield and Ruth Nelson, of Pittsburgh.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Frances Ruth (Dunlap) Nelson whom he married on June 11, 1941 and who passed away on July 22, 1987, three brothers; Willard Nelson, Richard Nelson and Sherman Nelson, a sister, Ella Mae Lindvall and her husband John and a sister-in-law Susie Nelson.

Funeral Services will be held at the Clearfield Christian and Missionary Alliance Church on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. with Dr. Duane White officiating. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde. Military Honors will be accorded at the church by the Clearfield American Legion Post #6 and the VFW Post #1785 Honor Guard.

Friends will be received at Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc., Clearfield on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 P.M. and on Thursday at the church from10:00 A.M. until the hour of the services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arthritis Foundation International, P.O. Box 96280, Washington, DC 20077 or ALS Association of Western PA, 416 Lincoln Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15209.

To send online tributes go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com