Edward Warren Nelson, missionary emeritus of the International Mission Board, died Thursday, March 28, 2013. Ed and his wife, Gladys, served 33 years in Chile and with the Baptist Spanish Publishing House in El Paso, Texas. He will be remembered as the compiler and editor of "Himnario Bautista." Born Sept. 18, 1922, to Dr. Warren Rufus Nelson and Annie Nyra Garner Nelson of Charleston, S.C., Ed lost his mother when he was six weeks old and was raised by his grandparents, Mary and Lelon Witt Garner, natives of Virginia, who moved to Houston, Texas, in 1926. Ed graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, Texas, in 1942. He graduated with a BA degree from Baylor University in 1949, a bachelor of sacred music and master of sacred music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1952 and 1953, a master of religious education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1963, and also a doctorate of education in 1970. Ed was a 60mm mortarman in the Marine Corps during World War II, serving 31 days on Iwo Jima. Following the war, his unit was among the occupational forces in Sasebo, Japan. It was the result of a brief conversation with a Japanese soldier that the seed was planted in his heart for missionary service. Ed met and married Gladys Louise Samp of Ipswich, S.D., June 16, 1947, while they were students at Baylor University. Ed is survived by his wife and three children, Edward Warren Nelson Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of San Antonio, Texas, Linda Louise Nelson of Triangle, Va., and Lisa Annette Nelson Cope and her husband, Philip, of Charlotte, N.C. There are five precious grandchildren, Michal Ramsey Nelson Taylor and her husband, Nathan Taylor, Edward Warren Nelson III (Tres), Lindsey Morgan Cope, Emily Brooke Cope and Robert Hampton Cope. Ed had two half-brothers and their wives, Dr. William and Colleen Nelson of Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Thomas and Harriet Nelson of Myrtle Beach, S.C. He leaves special nieces and nephews, all loved by "Uncle Ed." During his days at Baylor and Southwestern Seminary, Ed was on the staff of three churches, First Baptist of Grand Saline, Texas, First Baptist of Mexia, Texas, and First Baptist of Mineola, Texas. Following seminary training, Ed and Gladys were called to two full-time churches prior to missionary service, Inglewood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., and Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. They were appointed as missionaries to Chile, South America, in April 1956, and studied Spanish in Costa Rica for a year before going to Santiago, Chile, in November 1958. In 1970, Ed was asked to become the director of the music and worship department, Baptist Spanish Publishing House in El Paso, Texas. Ed became the general editor for the publication of the "Himnario Bautista," a new hymnal for Hispanic churches both in the U.S. and in the Spanish-speaking world. Ed was the author of two books, "Music and Worship," written in English mainly for theological education by extension in Caribbean churches and "Que Mi Pueblo Adore" (Let My People Worship) that is used as a textbook on worship in Hispanic seminaries and Bible schools. Ed and Gladys moved to Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo in 1991. They are members of First Baptist Church where Ed served in many activities and volunteer work. The family thanks Dr. Ty Hughston for his many years of care and Baptist Hospice and community for their care. A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 31, 2013, at Johnson's Funeral Home. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2013, in First Baptist Church chapel. Memorials may be made to the Baptist Spanish Publishing House, 7000 Alabama St., El Paso, TX 79904; or Baptist Retirement Community, 902 N. Main St., San Angelo, TX 76903. Family and friends may sign the online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com.
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