Robert C. Nelson, 88, formerly of Sun City West, AZ and Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA passed away under hospice care June 19, 2012 at Whitney Place Assisted Living, Natick, MA due to pancreatic cancer. Born in Grand Rapids, MI in 1923, Mr. Nelson was the son of Algot L. Nelson and Katherine Geyer Nelson. His sister, Lois Thornburgh, predeceased him. After graduating from University High School, Los Angeles and attending Michigan State University Mr. Nelson became a Staff Sergeant in the 1257th Combat Engineers of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. He served at D-Day at Omaha Beach, Normandy., in the Battle of the Bulge at Aachen, Germany, and later in the Allied Forces Army of Occupation at Weisbaden, Germany. Mr. Nelson finished his college education after World War II at the University of Michigan. In 1949 he received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Univ. of Michigan and married Ruth Elaine Kivi to whom be was lovingly devoted for 55 years of marriage He worked as an engineer with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Los Angeles, Ohio, and Detroit, but later switched to sales with Goodyear. In 1957 he moved with his wife, daughter, and son to Southern California where Mr. Nelson was a Field Sales Representative for Goodyear Aerospace in Los Angeles. For many years he lived happily with his family in Palos Verdes, CA where he coached Little Lepgne Baseball and local worth basketball. Upon retirement he and his wife, Ruth, moved to Sun City West, AZ where he enjoyed golf, bowling, and cruises with his wife until her death in 2004. Mr. Nelson lived the last three years of his life at Whitney Place at Natick where he participated in the social activities and Adult Day Health on site. He developed warm friendships with the residents of this assisted living facility. Mr. Nelson had an infectious sense of humor. He liked to draw cartoons and had a flair for it. He will be remembered for his happy approach to life and love of his family. He summed up his 29 years in the defense industry (with top secret security clearance) by saying "The secrecy of my work prevents me from knowing what I am doing." Mr. Nelson leaves his daughter, Patricia Adams and her husband, E. Eric Adams of Wellesley, MA; his son, R. Michael Nelson, Lincoln, NE; grandson, Christopher Adams and his wife, Audrey Jones, Atlanta, GA; grandson, Neil Adams and his fiance, Beatriz Delgado, Medford, MA, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Mr. Nelson's life will be held Sat., June 30, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room of Whitney Place at Natick, 3 Vision Drive, Route 9 West, Natick, MA 01760. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Robert C. Nelson's name may be made by check or money order to MetroWest Hospice, Attn.: John R. Edson, R.N. at MetroWest Hospice, 85 Lincoln St., Framingham, MA 01702; or online to donorschoose.org to assist under-resourced classrooms wherever you choose in the United States.