Delores Webb Nelson

Born to Irl Christian Webb and Helen Lucile Otto in Bloomington, Illinois on June 30, 1931, Dee grew up on the family farm in central Illinois. As a child, she was active in the 4-H Club. She was high school salutatorian, as well as an accomplished pianist and vocalist. She earned an Associate Degree from Blackburn College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Therapy/Special Education from Illinois State University. While at Illinois State she met and married the love of her life, Fred Nelson. Married for 70 years, Fred preceded Dee in death by only six months.

Dee worked as an elementary school speech therapist while putting Fred through graduate school at the University of Chicago. After Fred received an officer’s commission in the U.S. Army, Dee spent the next 20 years as the quintessential military officer’s wife: raising three children, working part-time as a speech therapist in Georgia and Virginia, volunteering and entertaining. While the family was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston for Fred’s last five years of military service, Dee earned her real estate license and worked as a real estate agent in San Antonio.

Dee was a gracious hospitable mother, homemaker, and volunteer, always putting others before herself. Wherever the Army moved the family, she became an active volunteer in her church, children’s activities, and community. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, Girl Scout leader, in numerous leadership positions with Officers’ Ladies Clubs (including President and Treasurer) and was Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Frankfurt, Germany American Youth Activities organization. The US Army Europe 3rd Armored Division honored her with an award for “portraying the highest example of civic responsibility in the community.” She took advantage of the family’s four years stationed in Germany to educate her children through travel, experiencing many artistic and cultural events and institutions. Her children have fond memories of camping trips and family vacations throughout Europe. They have equally fond memories of visits to Dee’s parents’ farm in Illinois, playing hide-n-seek in the cornfields, riding tractors, feeding animals, picking fruit and vegetables, and visiting her large extended Otto/Webb family.

After Fred’s military service, Dee and Fred returned to the Midwest, settling in Indiana (first in West Lafayette and later in Noblesville), where Dee obtained her Indiana Real Estate Brokerage License. She became an active volunteer and member of First Presbyterian Church of Noblesville. She also volunteered with Blatchley Nature Study Club, and held various volunteer positions, including President, with the local branch of the American Association of University Women. To be near family, Dee and Fred relocated from Indiana to Texas in 2017.

Dee is survived by her three children, Kim Thompson (Hannis) of Denver, Colorado; Jill Powell (Danny) of Austin, Texas; Tyler Nelson (Stephanie) of Frisco, Texas; seven grandchildren, Collin Thompson (Becca), Dana Vanderwel (Brandon), Ben Powell (Amanda), Matthew Powell (Hannah), Catherine Lehman (Chad), Alex Nelson (Jillian), and Anna Nelson; 7 great grandchildren; sister, Juanita Garrett, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Fred Nelson, her sister, Jacqueline Myers, and her brothers-in-law, Dale Garrett and Charles Myers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to honor Dee’s life may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1207 Conner Street, Noblesville, IN 46060.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held Saturday, April 30th, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Stonebriar Funeral Home, 10375 Preston Road, Frisco, TX 75033. Pastor Eric Gale, Dee’s pastor from First Presbyterian Church Noblesville, will preside. A committal service will be held Monday, May 2nd, 2022 at 10:15 AM at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.

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