R.V. Nelson

On Sunday September 4th, 2011 R.V. Nelson passed from this life at the age of 88, having been a resident at Menno Village for the past 15 years he had formerly resided on Overhill Dr. Chambersburg. He was born December 10, 1922 in the small town of Conway, NC to Rollin V. and Ella (Furtrell) Nelson. During his early years, he helped his parents on their peanut and cotton farms and also in their country store spending as much spare time as he could hunting and fishing in the swamps surrounding their farms. He always had a dog by his side which was a love he experienced throughout his whole life.

After graduating in 1940 from Conway High School, he enrolled in Wake Forest University until 1944 first majoring in pre-med and then business. After leaving Wake Forest he went to work at the US Naval Shipyard chemistry laboratory in Portsmouth, VA from 1944-1946. In 1946 he went to work for Grenable Hospital and Hotel Management as an auditor and in 1951, he came to Chambersburg Hospital which at the time was a client of Grenable. He was then asked to stay on at the Chambersburg Hospital to oversee the business office. He continued working at the hospital for 37 years moving through the ranks of comptroller, Director of Commercial Services, Assistant Administrator to Sr. VP for Administration retiring in 1988. Over those 37 years he saw many changes take place as the hospital grew to assure premier health care was provided for the community. He had a great respect for the hospital and love for the many employees he worked with over the years.

During his working years he was very active in the community in Community Chest, Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis Club of which he was a past president and recently received the honor of being a 50 year member. During retirement he was a member of Audubon, AARP, FUMC, and the Travel Terrapins Motor Home Club. He and his wife, Margaret traveled in their motor home to most of the continental US and also many times abroad. He especially liked to attend Elder Hostels where he learned to play the mandolin and wood carve. He loved to go bird watching, fishing on the OBX, NC, gardening and painting.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret (Bradley) who is a resident of Menno Haven Nursing Home, and his three children; Charles E. and wife, Sandy; Benjamin J. and wife, Remle and Vivian N. Furry and husband, Jeff all of Chambersburg; two grandchildren; Joshua B. and wife, April of Chambersburg, and Kate M. of Nags Head, NC; and a great granddaughter, Kylah Steinberger of Chambersburg. He is also survived by a sister, Mary Kathryn Bottoms, and husband, James of Elizabeth City, NC and two nieces, Kathy Lilley, and husband Gary of Chester, VA, and Mary Beth Belden of Marathon, FL.

Services will be held on Friday September 9th at 2:30 P.M. in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Chaplain Vernon Isner and Rev. Paul B. Baker will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday September 8th from 6:00-8:00 PM and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at Lincoln Cemetery.


In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Menno Haven Benevolent Fund at 2011 Scotland Avenue, or to the Chambersburg Hospital Endowment fund at 112 North Seventh Street, both in Chambersburg PA, 17201.