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Walker -- William (Bill) Nelson, Jr., 82, died Wednesday, September 25, 2002. He is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Pamela S. Walker of El Paso, TX, and Patricia L. and Rob Rechard of Albuquerque; and four grandchildren, Karen Walker of Nevada, Kyle and Kara Rechard of Albuquerque, and Kaelin Walker of El Paso. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Charlotte Ruth Walker; and son, William J. Walker. Bill was born October 25, 1919 in Salt Lake City, to Pauline Spidel and William Nelson, Sr., a partner in a medical supply business. Although his family lived for a short time in California and Price, Utah, he spent most of his life in Salt Lake. Bill was a Star Boy Scout, in DeMolay, and in junior ROTC. He graduated from East High School in 1937. He went on to the University of Utah to study biology, and was part of the fencing team and ROTC. He asked for active duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Artillery officer in 1941. He was first stationed in the Hawaiian Islands and later joined the 75th Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO). He participated in five major Pacific campaigns (Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines, and Okinawa), usually as a forward observer for the field artillery. He returned home as a Captain in 1945 and remained on active duty for several years. He then served as a reserve officer for several more. Rather than return to college, he opted to study photography, and was employed by Eastman Kodak. He met his wife, Ruth, through mutual friends at the Ft. Douglas Officers Club and was married June 14, 1952. After working at General Electric and Einco, he took a job at Sperry Rand (later part of UNYSIS) in 1959 where he was employed for 25 years, first as a draftsman and later as a computer chip designer. In Salt Lake, he was a charter member of Westvale Presbyterian Church for 33 years, and like his father, a lifelong Mason and member of Argenta Lodge. His favorite pastime was gardening, though his children cajoled him into many other activities. In 1996, Bill and Ruth moved to Albuquerque and were members of First Presbyterian Church. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, at First Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque. Memorials to his memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign, New Church Development of the Presbyterian Presbytery of Sante Fe, or Albuquerque Zoo.
        Published on: Sun September 29, 2002