Lane Henry Nelson, Sr.

Lane Henry Nelson, Sr., 91, of Savannah, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, March 6th, 2016, following a brief illness.
He was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on May 2nd, 1924 as the only child of William Walter Nelson and Emma Elizabeth Nelson. After many years of traveling during the Depression, he and his parents settled in Walterboro, South Carolina, where he attended Walterboro High School. He served in the United States Army for two years as a radio operator, having completed basic training at Camp Lee, Virginia. He subsequently traveled to Saipan where he served for several months, then to Guam, ultimately completing his military career in San Francisco before returning home.
Mr. Nelson loved to fly and earned his pilot’s license at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. He and his wife, Margaret Peavy, were married in 1949. He worked for Wilson and Company Meat Packers and Collins Frozen Foods before joining Capital Frozen Foods in Savannah and retiring at the age of 65. He was extremely proud of his service as a Master Mason in Thunderbolt Lodge 693, where he was awarded a 50 year pin and apron in March 2012. Mr. Nelson was an enthusiastic student of nature until he died, spending many hours enjoying the Savannah Wildlife Refuge and watching and studying birds; much of his understanding of all things wild was imparted to his grandchildren and their lives were greatly enriched by his willingness to share his knowledge.
Mr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Margaret Peavy Nelson, who passed away in December 2015.
He is survived by his only child, Lane Henry Nelson, Jr., and his wife Marian; his two beautiful granddaughters, of whom he was most proud: Elizabeth Nelson Slater (Stanley) of Statesboro, Georgia and Margaret Olivia Nelson of Savannah and several nieces, nephews, and brothers/sisters -in-law.
The family wishes to thank the various doctors, nurses and other staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital who expertly cared for him over the last two weeks; the dedicated staff and loyal friends he made at John Wesley Villas during his brief stay there; his Masonic brothers who never let him forget he was their family; and his dear neighbors, especially Mrs. Carolyn Mack, who visited and checked on him routinely following his wife’s passing.
Memorials may be made to Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Post Office Box 16841, Savannah, Georgia 31416 or by visiting their website at: www.coastalrefuges.org , or to Thunderbolt Masonic Lodge 693, Post Office Box 15034, Thunderbolt, Georgia 31416.
The family will receive friends, Tuesday, March 8th, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Bonaventure Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held, Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Abbey West. Members of the Thunderbolt Masonic Lodge 693 will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.