Gordon Rhodes Nelson, Sr. 86, of Frederick County, Virginia, died Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at Winchester Medical Center.

         Mr. Nelson was born in 1928, in Winchester, Virginia, the son of the late Caudy Andrew and Virgie Oates Nelson.  He was a 1947 graduate of John Handley High School and attended Shepherd College.  Mr. Nelson was a retired Administrative Appeals Examiner for the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC).  He attended the First Presbyterian Church in Winchester.

         He was an avid tennis player who spent many hours at the city courts where he won many city championships.  He was inducted into the Handley High School Football Hall of Fame and was known as “Stonewall”, enjoyed riding the country roads on his motorcycle, hunting, and spending time outdoors.  Mr. Nelson loved spending time on his farm with his family and friends. 

         He married Louise Boyce at Old Stone Presbyterian Church on November 27, 1952.

         Surviving with his wife are three daughters, Anita Nelson Jenkins (Nathan), Susan Nelson McCulloch (John), Stephanie Nelson (Dennis Brian); grandchildren, Alison Jenkins D’Alessandro (Carmine), Natalie Jenkins Gerometta (Justin), Jason Jutila (Claudia), Kristin Jutila, John McCulloch, III, Jessica Full (Thomas), Joshua McCulloch, Jessica Creamer, JaMichael Creamer; 13 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who were very dear to him. 

         His son, Gordon Rhodes “Skip” Nelson, Jr., two sisters, Gwendolyn N. Trenary, Dana N. Gordon and one brother, Chalmers Lee Nelson, preceded him in death.

         A funeral service will be conducted at 2:30 on Friday at First Presbyterian Church with The Reverend Dr. Richard Reifsnyder officiating.  Interment will be private. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall at the church.

         In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in memory of Gordon may be made to Chestnut Grove Cemetery Fund c/o Lorraine DeHaven, 520 Chestnut Grove Road, Winchester, Virginia, 22603 or First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 116 South Loudoun Street, Winchester, Virginia, 22601 or the Community Assistance Fund, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia, 22601.