Robert Ross Nelson

Robert Ross Nelson was born in Portland, Ore., on July 11, 1936. He passed away peacefully at his home in Oak Harbor on April 24, 2014.

He was born to Donald O. and Helen Ross Nelson. His father was an engineer on Grand Coulee Dam when he was born. The family moved later to Enumclaw, Wash., and then to Long Beach, Calif., where his father worked at the Navy shipyards.

Robert lost his mother at the age of 2 and his father when he was 5. He went to live with his maternal grandmother, Mabel Ross, in Portland, Ore. At the age of 15, Robert was a freshman at Lincoln High School, in Portland, Ore., when his grandmother died. He then went to live with his older sister and her husband at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He attended Elsinor High School and then the family moved back to Silverton, Ore., where he finished high school.

Robert graduated from Linfield College in Oregon in 1958 and was married to Beverly Clark on July 12, 1958 in Great Falls, Mont. He began his professional career as a social worker, working in John Day, Ore. He also taught history and social studies at Triangle Lake Middle School and Arlington High School in Oregon.

Completing graduate work at Portland State University, he moved to Monroe, Wash., and was a social worker at the Washington State Reformatory.

Transferring to DSHS in Kent, Wash., and then to Everett, where he was assigned for the next 21 years, he worked in all divisions of DSHS and for many years in foster home placement, Children’s Protective Services, adoption and job training. He always loved working with people and helped so many in need.

Robert retired in 1995 and he and Beverly moved to Sequim in 1998, remaining there for eight years. While in Sequim, he had a ministry of shut-ins, nursing home residents and members of his church who were home-bound.

For the past eight years, Robert and Bev were residents of Oak Harbor. He had failing health and memory loss in the last few years and, on April 15, 2014, suffered a massive stroke from which he never recovered.

Robert was a loving father and husband and loved his Lord Jesus. He was always happy, never complained and always had a great sense of humor. He was a member of the Church on the Rock in Oak Harbor. He was promoted to glory and he “shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thess. 4:17).

Robert is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bev; son, Raymond Robert Nelson and his wife Maxine and their children Brianna, Joshua and Jacob Nelson, of New Zealand; son, Clark J. Nelson and his wife, Dawn, and their children, Hope and Haley Nelson, of Everett, Wash., and; son, Eric Nelson, of Seattle.

Also surviving are one sister, Barbara Hartley, of Mt. Angel, Ore., and nephews and nieces, Don Hartley, Doug Hartley, Stuart Hartley and Carol Hartley and family, all of Oregon.

He also leaves very close friends, Lowell and Kathy Braaten, of Monroe, Wash., and Rick and Carol Webber, of Snohomish, Wash.

His family wishes to thank Whidbey General Hospital and the Home Health Staff, North Whidbey Therapy and Hospice of the Northwest for all the wonderful care given to him, and also thank his caregiver, Robert Dow, for such excellent care.

Memorials may be made to the Senior Services of Island County.

A Celebration of Life is 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at Church on the Rock, Oak Harbor with Pastor Jim Deininger officiating. Family graveside services were held at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville, Wash.

Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, Wash.

Friends and family are encouraged to visit Robert’s page in the Book of Memories at