Billy Lane Nelson

After college and seminary, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served honorably during the Korean War. Upon his discharge, he became employed by IBM as a computer programmer and worked in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and later in France. He married Barbara Polick and became the proud father of Angie and David. They were married for 34 years. After his retirement, he married Patricia High. Together they were Senior Net coaches.

He was a co-owner of Quick Hitch and Nelson Enterprises. He was an avid Confederacy enthusiast leading to his active involvement in the Franklin Rifles Sons of the Confederacy. He was a role model as he lived with Parkinson ’s disease and was an example of living life to its fullest, even in the midst of challenges and adversities, with a positive attitude and love of life. He was a member of Bay Leaf Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia High Nelson; daughter, Angela (Fred); son, David (Lisa); Stepson, Roger Bailey ( Janet); stepdaughters, Mitzi Wilson (Mark), Cyndi Goerke (Tom), and Donna McGee; grandchildren, Michelle Cherry (Alex), Kimberly Floyd (Taylor), Rebecca Thompson; step-grandchildren, Jessica Howard Johnson, Lynsey Howard, Lyssa Wilson, Ashley Wilson, Bailey McGee, great-grandchildren; Connor Cherry and Kiley Cherry, sister, Linda Griffin (Jerry), Donald Nelson (Elizabeth), and Dr. Bobby Nelson(Susan). He was predeceased by parents, his brother, Ben Nelson, and wife, Barbara.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 27 at 2:00 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh with Rev. Barbara High Tyre officiating. The family will receive guests at the funeral home from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Burial with military honors will immediately follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to Billy’s Bullwinkles for Parkinsons at 9816 Gralyn Rd., Raleigh, NC27613.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. MitchellatRMP.com