Parents: Walter and Nellie (Donnelly) Nelson.
BERNARDSTON — Cola R. Nelson, 91, of Bald Mountain Road, passed peacefully at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, on Monday evening (11-21-2011).
He was born in Greenfield, MA on May 11, 1920, the son of Walter and Nellie (Donnelly) Nelson. He was educated in Bernardston Schools and was a graduate of Powers Institute. He worked early in life pedaling meat from the family farm in the local area.
He joined the US. Marines in 1942. He was a proud Marine of the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 3rd Marine division. He participated in six amphibious campaigns in the Pacific Theatre of WWII including, Bouganville, Munda, Rendova, Guam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. While attached to the fifth Marine Division, he drove an amphibian tractor in the third wave of the landing at the base of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. His tractor battalion was preparing for the "Olympic Landing" on Mainland Japan when the War ended. He returned home and married the former Eva May Streeter on October 6, 1946 in Bernardston. Eva predeceased him earlier in 2011.
The Nelsons moved to Arizona in 1954 returning a year later to Bernardston. He then was employed selling cars for many years first at R.S. Roberts in Brattleboro, Vt. then Jordons Chevrolet in Northfield, Ma. then Dillon Chevrolet in Greenfield, Ma. and finally at Spencer Ford in Northfield. He then established his own Real Estate business in Bernardston where he worked until his retirement. He also worked part time at Streeters Store in Bernardston. He was a member of the Bernardston Kiwanis Club, the Bernardston Sportsmen Club, the Bernardston American Legion, and the Oak Ridge Detachment of the Marine Corps. League he was a past member of the Bernardston Fire Dept. In 1976 he and Eva moved back to Arizona where they remained until 1983, once again returning to Bernardston.
He will be lovingly remembered by his family, his son Cola "Dick" R. Nelson Jr. of Hopkinton, Ma., his daughter Eva Lee "Tweet" Stratford and her husband Derrell of Bernardston. His grandchildren: Bruce Stratford and his wife Rebecca of Templeton, Ma., Stephanie Nelson and finance' Oliver Stretton-Pow of Waiheki Island, New Zealand, Gina Glabach and husband Rob of St. John's Virgin Islands, Chad Nelson of Springfield, Ma., Taylor Nelson of Southboro, Ma. and Travis Nelson of Cambridge, Ma., his great-grandchildren: Bryce, Hayley, Olivia and Spencer Stratford, and Huxley and Conrad Hilton, Suri Stretton-Pow and Gabrielle and Alexandra Glabach, his step great grandchildren: Leo Stretton-Pow, and Violet Hilton. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Ernest Streeter and his wife Polly of Bernardston, Ma. and Ansel Delano of Greenfield, Ma. and his sisters-in-law Eunice Randall and husband Clarence of Bernardston, ma. and Mary Merz and her husband Karl, of Sun City, Ariz. He was predeceased by his siblings, Walter Nelson, Georgianna Herrick, Marion Delano, Priscilla Weimers, and Florence and Grace Nelson.
The family would like to thank members of the Bernardston Fire Dept. Baystate Ambulance Service, Dr. Stephen Eipper and the nurses in the Baystate Franklin medical Center Emergency Dept.
Funeral Services will be Saturday (11-26-2011) at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Bernardston, Church St., Bernardston, Ma. The Rev. Raymond Medeiros, Pastor will officiate.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Center Cemetery, Bernardston.
Calling hours will be Friday evening (11-25-11) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Ma.
Donations in his memory may be made to either the Bernardston Senior Center, P.O. Box 504, Bernardston, Ma. 01337 or the Bernardston Fire Dept., 4 Church St., Bernardston, Ma. 01337.
BERNARDSTON — Cola R. Nelson, 91, of Bald Mountain Road, passed peacefully at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, on Monday evening (11-21-2011).
He was born in Greenfield, MA on May 11, 1920, the son of Walter and Nellie (Donnelly) Nelson. He was educated in Bernardston Schools and was a graduate of Powers Institute. He worked early in life pedaling meat from the family farm in the local area.
He joined the US. Marines in 1942. He was a proud Marine of the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 3rd Marine division. He participated in six amphibious campaigns in the Pacific Theatre of WWII including, Bouganville, Munda, Rendova, Guam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. While attached to the fifth Marine Division, he drove an amphibian tractor in the third wave of the landing at the base of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. His tractor battalion was preparing for the "Olympic Landing" on Mainland Japan when the War ended. He returned home and married the former Eva May Streeter on October 6, 1946 in Bernardston. Eva predeceased him earlier in 2011.
The Nelsons moved to Arizona in 1954 returning a year later to Bernardston. He then was employed selling cars for many years first at R.S. Roberts in Brattleboro, Vt. then Jordons Chevrolet in Northfield, Ma. then Dillon Chevrolet in Greenfield, Ma. and finally at Spencer Ford in Northfield. He then established his own Real Estate business in Bernardston where he worked until his retirement. He also worked part time at Streeters Store in Bernardston. He was a member of the Bernardston Kiwanis Club, the Bernardston Sportsmen Club, the Bernardston American Legion, and the Oak Ridge Detachment of the Marine Corps. League he was a past member of the Bernardston Fire Dept. In 1976 he and Eva moved back to Arizona where they remained until 1983, once again returning to Bernardston.
He will be lovingly remembered by his family, his son Cola "Dick" R. Nelson Jr. of Hopkinton, Ma., his daughter Eva Lee "Tweet" Stratford and her husband Derrell of Bernardston. His grandchildren: Bruce Stratford and his wife Rebecca of Templeton, Ma., Stephanie Nelson and finance' Oliver Stretton-Pow of Waiheki Island, New Zealand, Gina Glabach and husband Rob of St. John's Virgin Islands, Chad Nelson of Springfield, Ma., Taylor Nelson of Southboro, Ma. and Travis Nelson of Cambridge, Ma., his great-grandchildren: Bryce, Hayley, Olivia and Spencer Stratford, and Huxley and Conrad Hilton, Suri Stretton-Pow and Gabrielle and Alexandra Glabach, his step great grandchildren: Leo Stretton-Pow, and Violet Hilton. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Ernest Streeter and his wife Polly of Bernardston, Ma. and Ansel Delano of Greenfield, Ma. and his sisters-in-law Eunice Randall and husband Clarence of Bernardston, ma. and Mary Merz and her husband Karl, of Sun City, Ariz. He was predeceased by his siblings, Walter Nelson, Georgianna Herrick, Marion Delano, Priscilla Weimers, and Florence and Grace Nelson.
The family would like to thank members of the Bernardston Fire Dept. Baystate Ambulance Service, Dr. Stephen Eipper and the nurses in the Baystate Franklin medical Center Emergency Dept.
Funeral Services will be Saturday (11-26-2011) at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Bernardston, Church St., Bernardston, Ma. The Rev. Raymond Medeiros, Pastor will officiate.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Center Cemetery, Bernardston.
Calling hours will be Friday evening (11-25-11) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Ma.
Donations in his memory may be made to either the Bernardston Senior Center, P.O. Box 504, Bernardston, Ma. 01337 or the Bernardston Fire Dept., 4 Church St., Bernardston, Ma. 01337.
Parents: Walter and Nellie (Donnelly) Nelson.
BERNARDSTON — Cola R. Nelson, 91, of Bald Mountain Road, passed peacefully at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, on Monday evening (11-21-2011).
He was born in Greenfield, MA on May 11, 1920, the son of Walter and Nellie (Donnelly) Nelson. He was educated in Bernardston Schools and was a graduate of Powers Institute. He worked early in life pedaling meat from the family farm in the local area.
He joined the US. Marines in 1942. He was a proud Marine of the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 3rd Marine division. He participated in six amphibious campaigns in the Pacific Theatre of WWII including, Bouganville, Munda, Rendova, Guam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. While attached to the fifth Marine Division, he drove an amphibian tractor in the third wave of the landing at the base of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. His tractor battalion was preparing for the "Olympic Landing" on Mainland Japan when the War ended. He returned home and married the former Eva May Streeter on October 6, 1946 in Bernardston. Eva predeceased him earlier in 2011.
The Nelsons moved to Arizona in 1954 returning a year later to Bernardston. He then was employed selling cars for many years first at R.S. Roberts in Brattleboro, Vt. then Jordons Chevrolet in Northfield, Ma. then Dillon Chevrolet in Greenfield, Ma. and finally at Spencer Ford in Northfield. He then established his own Real Estate business in Bernardston where he worked until his retirement. He also worked part time at Streeters Store in Bernardston. He was a member of the Bernardston Kiwanis Club, the Bernardston Sportsmen Club, the Bernardston American Legion, and the Oak Ridge Detachment of the Marine Corps. League he was a past member of the Bernardston Fire Dept. In 1976 he and Eva moved back to Arizona where they remained until 1983, once again returning to Bernardston.
He will be lovingly remembered by his family, his son Cola "Dick" R. Nelson Jr. of Hopkinton, Ma., his daughter Eva Lee "Tweet" Stratford and her husband Derrell of Bernardston. His grandchildren: Bruce Stratford and his wife Rebecca of Templeton, Ma., Stephanie Nelson and finance' Oliver Stretton-Pow of Waiheki Island, New Zealand, Gina Glabach and husband Rob of St. John's Virgin Islands, Chad Nelson of Springfield, Ma., Taylor Nelson of Southboro, Ma. and Travis Nelson of Cambridge, Ma., his great-grandchildren: Bryce, Hayley, Olivia and Spencer Stratford, and Huxley and Conrad Hilton, Suri Stretton-Pow and Gabrielle and Alexandra Glabach, his step great grandchildren: Leo Stretton-Pow, and Violet Hilton. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Ernest Streeter and his wife Polly of Bernardston, Ma. and Ansel Delano of Greenfield, Ma. and his sisters-in-law Eunice Randall and husband Clarence of Bernardston, ma. and Mary Merz and her husband Karl, of Sun City, Ariz. He was predeceased by his siblings, Walter Nelson, Georgianna Herrick, Marion Delano, Priscilla Weimers, and Florence and Grace Nelson.
The family would like to thank members of the Bernardston Fire Dept. Baystate Ambulance Service, Dr. Stephen Eipper and the nurses in the Baystate Franklin medical Center Emergency Dept.
Funeral Services will be Saturday (11-26-2011) at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Bernardston, Church St., Bernardston, Ma. The Rev. Raymond Medeiros, Pastor will officiate.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Center Cemetery, Bernardston.
Calling hours will be Friday evening (11-25-11) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Ma.
Donations in his memory may be made to either the Bernardston Senior Center, P.O. Box 504, Bernardston, Ma. 01337 or the Bernardston Fire Dept., 4 Church St., Bernardston, Ma. 01337.
BERNARDSTON — Cola R. Nelson, 91, of Bald Mountain Road, passed peacefully at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, on Monday evening (11-21-2011).
He was born in Greenfield, MA on May 11, 1920, the son of Walter and Nellie (Donnelly) Nelson. He was educated in Bernardston Schools and was a graduate of Powers Institute. He worked early in life pedaling meat from the family farm in the local area.
He joined the US. Marines in 1942. He was a proud Marine of the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 3rd Marine division. He participated in six amphibious campaigns in the Pacific Theatre of WWII including, Bouganville, Munda, Rendova, Guam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. While attached to the fifth Marine Division, he drove an amphibian tractor in the third wave of the landing at the base of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. His tractor battalion was preparing for the "Olympic Landing" on Mainland Japan when the War ended. He returned home and married the former Eva May Streeter on October 6, 1946 in Bernardston. Eva predeceased him earlier in 2011.
The Nelsons moved to Arizona in 1954 returning a year later to Bernardston. He then was employed selling cars for many years first at R.S. Roberts in Brattleboro, Vt. then Jordons Chevrolet in Northfield, Ma. then Dillon Chevrolet in Greenfield, Ma. and finally at Spencer Ford in Northfield. He then established his own Real Estate business in Bernardston where he worked until his retirement. He also worked part time at Streeters Store in Bernardston. He was a member of the Bernardston Kiwanis Club, the Bernardston Sportsmen Club, the Bernardston American Legion, and the Oak Ridge Detachment of the Marine Corps. League he was a past member of the Bernardston Fire Dept. In 1976 he and Eva moved back to Arizona where they remained until 1983, once again returning to Bernardston.
He will be lovingly remembered by his family, his son Cola "Dick" R. Nelson Jr. of Hopkinton, Ma., his daughter Eva Lee "Tweet" Stratford and her husband Derrell of Bernardston. His grandchildren: Bruce Stratford and his wife Rebecca of Templeton, Ma., Stephanie Nelson and finance' Oliver Stretton-Pow of Waiheki Island, New Zealand, Gina Glabach and husband Rob of St. John's Virgin Islands, Chad Nelson of Springfield, Ma., Taylor Nelson of Southboro, Ma. and Travis Nelson of Cambridge, Ma., his great-grandchildren: Bryce, Hayley, Olivia and Spencer Stratford, and Huxley and Conrad Hilton, Suri Stretton-Pow and Gabrielle and Alexandra Glabach, his step great grandchildren: Leo Stretton-Pow, and Violet Hilton. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Ernest Streeter and his wife Polly of Bernardston, Ma. and Ansel Delano of Greenfield, Ma. and his sisters-in-law Eunice Randall and husband Clarence of Bernardston, ma. and Mary Merz and her husband Karl, of Sun City, Ariz. He was predeceased by his siblings, Walter Nelson, Georgianna Herrick, Marion Delano, Priscilla Weimers, and Florence and Grace Nelson.
The family would like to thank members of the Bernardston Fire Dept. Baystate Ambulance Service, Dr. Stephen Eipper and the nurses in the Baystate Franklin medical Center Emergency Dept.
Funeral Services will be Saturday (11-26-2011) at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Bernardston, Church St., Bernardston, Ma. The Rev. Raymond Medeiros, Pastor will officiate.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Center Cemetery, Bernardston.
Calling hours will be Friday evening (11-25-11) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Ma.
Donations in his memory may be made to either the Bernardston Senior Center, P.O. Box 504, Bernardston, Ma. 01337 or the Bernardston Fire Dept., 4 Church St., Bernardston, Ma. 01337.
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