James Allen Nelson (April 5, 1936--- April 11, 2022)
Lieutenant Colonel James Allen Nelson Jr. USA, Retired, passed away at the age of 86 in his home in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where he has lived with his beloved wife, Mary Elizabeth (Lang) Nelson, since 1980. Known fondly among his friends and community members as "Jimmy," LTC Nelson established his picture framing business, The Downingtown Art Gallery, in this house, and stewarded it faithfully for over thirty years. People familiar with the main thoroughfare of Downingtown will remember the sign on the front yard; artists and art lovers in the area will remember the impeccable service he rendered. In 1975 Jimmy retired from active duty and returned to the place of his birth to start a new life with his wife and son, Matthew. His mother and father, Louise Ann (Carr) Nelson and James Allen Nelson Sr, were longtime residents, his father having worked for Lukens Steel in Coatesville. Jimmy's fondest childhood memories are from Lowbrook Farm, chasing his dog "Boy" in the strawberries, taking care of stray animals like his pigeon "Pidgy." He attended the Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University) and enlisted in the army immediately after his graduation in 1958. First posted to US military bases here and in Germany, Jimmy was ultimately deployed to Vietnam where he stayed for one tour of duty and earned the Bronze Star Medal for "meritorious achievement in ground operations" between 1967 and 1968. Jimmy served in Vietnam through the Tet Offensive, and worked in communications and logistics. He was later awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. After Vietnam, James and his family were deployed to Zweibrücken, Germany, for four years. He remained in the Reserves until 1996 when he retired officially from the Army.
Jimmy loved and took great care of his Downingtown home and business, which had famously housed Buffalo Bill Cody when he was on tour with Charlie Trego. Jimmy was an aficionado of literature, stories, Scrabble, wordsmithing, jokes-- he always had a (clean!) joke for anyone he met-- and was a great supporter of early childhood literacy. One always found him in the middle of playing a game or teaching someone else how to have fun with words. He volunteered at the Bradford Heights Elementary School and, apart from this volunteer work, also mentored two young children well into adulthood. James was a great friend to animals, youngsters, and lost souls. He was an inordinately kind man who had an indomitable spirit. He is survived by his sister, Ann Louise (Nelson) Shields, his goddaughter Nan Da, his son, Matthew Lang Nelson, and the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Nelson.
James Allen Nelson will be interred at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Graveside service will be held on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 1:30PM. Donations can be made in his honor to the library at Bradford Heights Elementary School for the purchase of new books (Contact Dana Bean, 610-269-6021) or the Chester County Library Trust (https://chescolibraries.org/about/how-you-can-help/chester-county-library-trust).
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of James A. Nelson Jr. hosted by Raffeo-Dicecco Funeral Home.
James Allen Nelson (April 5, 1936--- April 11, 2022)
Lieutenant Colonel James Allen Nelson Jr. USA, Retired, passed away at the age of 86 in his home in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where he has lived with his beloved wife, Mary Elizabeth (Lang) Nelson, since 1980. Known fondly among his friends and community members as "Jimmy," LTC Nelson established his picture framing business, The Downingtown Art Gallery, in this house, and stewarded it faithfully for over thirty years. People familiar with the main thoroughfare of Downingtown will remember the sign on the front yard; artists and art lovers in the area will remember the impeccable service he rendered. In 1975 Jimmy retired from active duty and returned to the place of his birth to start a new life with his wife and son, Matthew. His mother and father, Louise Ann (Carr) Nelson and James Allen Nelson Sr, were longtime residents, his father having worked for Lukens Steel in Coatesville. Jimmy's fondest childhood memories are from Lowbrook Farm, chasing his dog "Boy" in the strawberries, taking care of stray animals like his pigeon "Pidgy." He attended the Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University) and enlisted in the army immediately after his graduation in 1958. First posted to US military bases here and in Germany, Jimmy was ultimately deployed to Vietnam where he stayed for one tour of duty and earned the Bronze Star Medal for "meritorious achievement in ground operations" between 1967 and 1968. Jimmy served in Vietnam through the Tet Offensive, and worked in communications and logistics. He was later awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. After Vietnam, James and his family were deployed to Zweibrücken, Germany, for four years. He remained in the Reserves until 1996 when he retired officially from the Army.
Jimmy loved and took great care of his Downingtown home and business, which had famously housed Buffalo Bill Cody when he was on tour with Charlie Trego. Jimmy was an aficionado of literature, stories, Scrabble, wordsmithing, jokes-- he always had a (clean!) joke for anyone he met-- and was a great supporter of early childhood literacy. One always found him in the middle of playing a game or teaching someone else how to have fun with words. He volunteered at the Bradford Heights Elementary School and, apart from this volunteer work, also mentored two young children well into adulthood. James was a great friend to animals, youngsters, and lost souls. He was an inordinately kind man who had an indomitable spirit. He is survived by his sister, Ann Louise (Nelson) Shields, his goddaughter Nan Da, his son, Matthew Lang Nelson, and the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Nelson.
James Allen Nelson will be interred at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Graveside service will be held on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 1:30PM. Donations can be made in his honor to the library at Bradford Heights Elementary School for the purchase of new books (Contact Dana Bean, 610-269-6021) or the Chester County Library Trust (https://chescolibraries.org/about/how-you-can-help/chester-county-library-trust).
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of James A. Nelson Jr. hosted by Raffeo-Dicecco Funeral Home.
