COL NELSON, WILLIAM J. to TAPs

COL William J. Nelson, USA, Ret., 82, of Indianapolis, passed away November 30, 2013. He was born the son of James H. and Edna (Daly) Nelson, February 12, 1931 in Ft. Riley, KS.  

Colonel Nelson's U.S. Army career spanned 31 years, during which he was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service, and the Legion of Merit. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 3, 1948 at the age of 17, was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS), and earned his commission in 1951. His tours were many, both stateside and overseas, including serving one year in Vietnam from October 1967 to October 1968. He retired as a colonel from the U.S. Army Finance & Accounting Center, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN, in 1979. He was inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame in 1996; and, recently, into the Financial Center Hall of Fame, which, although established in 1953, has only 11 inductees.

Bill attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and completed his BS in Business Administration in 1958 at La Salle College, Philadelphia, PA. In 1973, Bill earned his MBA in Public Administration at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He later became a licensed CPA. Following retirement from the Army, Bill worked for various companies, to include IU Medical Center, St. Vincent's, and Burlington Clinic. He also helped open Humana Women's Hospital. In full retirement, he served on the Finance Center Federal Credit Union Board of Directors for 10 years, and donated tax preparation services to many.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Linda (Ianniccari); children, Kathleen (Daniel) Houlihan, James (Stacy), William (Kristina), Christine (David) Scarchilli, and John (Laura); grandchildren, Jay (Sarah), Jonathan, Matthew, Katelyn, Kyla, Jillian Nelson and Frank Scarchilli; six great-grandchildren; and half-brother, Robert Stickney.

Visitation will be Sunday, December 8, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel, 9900 Allisonville Rd., Fishers; as well as Monday, December 9, noon to 2:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 10350 Glaser Way, Fishers, followed by a funeral mass, at 2:00 p.m., where Bill was a member. Colonel Nelson will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, with full military honors at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .

http://www.shirleybrothers.com.
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