Theodore Rowe Nelson was born Sept. 26 ^th , 1931 in South Bend, Washington to parents, Edith and Theodore Nelson.

A difficult time for our nation with the stock market crash of the 30's, yet as the stories were told, Ted and his late brother Bob spend time with their dad, a successful carpenter, working as home builders.

Ted graduated from high school in May of 1949 and soon entered the Navy.

Records indicated his good conduct commendations for National Defense, Korean Service, and The United Nations while serving on the USS Delta.

After his Navy duty, not knowing what his future held, he moved to Lakewood, Washington. He began a local job at a Richfield Gas Station on Veterans Drive, owned by Ted Johnson, one of the friendliest men in Lakewood.   While a bachelor, he took in a young teenage boy, still in high school, who later became his stepson. Little did he know at the time that he would marry this boy's mother and inherit this boy's two sisters.

Many changes occurred, one of which was his job acquired with the United States Post Office as a mail carrier. He faithfully held that job for over 20 years. He carried on the joy of walking for years, up until six months before he passed.

The stand out in all of this was Ted's intense love for hunting and fishing: his Fav'─deer and elk. We lived thru winters on venison and jerky. Which, by the way, was cut and packed often as a team by the hunters at the end of the season.

Last, while at Silver Creek Retirement Center, Ted earned a beautiful reputation for being a kind, jovial, and a very helpful man. Yes, when he was not available to "call bingo" at least once a week those residents were not happy. He also shopped, supplied, and manned the "in house store" and did so with a lady friend. Imagine… Ted going shopping with a lady. I often had the privilege of hearing him critiquing these gal's shopping habits. As our family connected with him through the years, he often had a definite and interesting opinion about the "goings on within" Silver Creek.

That which stands out has since been talk of a much-loved and appreciated friend and neighbor.