James Ralph Nelson

James Ralph Nelson, 84, died Sunday, January 21, 2007 in a local care center. A funeral service, with Dick McGinn, Overton Fabus, and Jeff Nelson officiating, will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2007 in Hillcrest Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. There will be a visitation at the Funeral Home from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 23. Ralph was born March 6, 1922 in Mount Calm, Texas to John Bradley and Florence Ferguson Nelson. He attended school and graduated from Mount Calm High School in 1939 and later attended Abilene Christian College, now Abilene Christian University. He also attended and graduated from Dale Carnegie. Ralph married Georgia Puckett on June 9, 1946 in Urbana, Illinois. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he was a service supervisor for Lone Star Gas when he retired after thirty eight years of employment. Ralph and his family moved to Abilene in 1967 where he continued his devoted and long time work with his church, Hillcrest Church of Christ, serving as an elder. An avid gardener, Ralph had a servant's heart, especially when it came to helping widows that were in need. In addition to his church, Ralph loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include: his wife Georgia Nelson of Abilene; two sons James Ralph Nelson, Jr. and his wife Donna of Allen, Texas and Jeffery Lynn Nelson and his wife Carol of San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Lora McGinnis and husband Dick of Trophy Club, Texas; four brothers, John B. Nelson of Elm Mott, Texas, Andrew L. Nelson and wife Lendy of Cleveland, Texas, Jack H. Nelson and wife June of Fort Worth, Texas, and Tom M. Nelson and wife Pat of Monticello, Kentucky; two sisters, Mary Haun of Hobbs, New Mexico and Sue Trice and husband Marvin of Houston; seven grandchildren, Kevin Nelson and wife Emily, Keith Nelson and wife Mitzi, Garrett McGinn and wife Amy, Lindsay Nelson, Tiffany McGinn, and Christopher Nelson; great-granddaughters, Grace Elizabeth Nelson and Nataleigh Nelson. Memorials may be made to Zambia Medical Mission, care of Hillcrest Church of Christ or Hendrick Hospice Care.