Walter Nels Nelson died at his residence in Summer Hill Assisted Living, Oak Harbor, Oct. 4, 2014, at the age of 94. He was born in Virginia, Minn., April 25, 1920.

He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1938 and then spent the next year in the Civilian Construction Camp (CCC).

Walter joined the U.S. Navy in November 1939 and graduated from Great Lakes boot camp.

His first duty station was aboard the USS Lexington CV-2 in San Pedro, Calif., where he was in training as a radioman striker and rear set gunner on a TBD devastator torpedo bomber attached to Torpedo Squadron 2.

Walter’s torpedo bomber sunk the first Imperial Japanese air craft carrier Shoho during WWII.

Unfortunately, he had to jump overboard when his own ship, the Lexington, was sunk the very next day.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his significant contributions during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

He continued his Naval service until his retirement in 1968.

He left the service as an RMCS (E-8) with more than 24 years of service. Walter settled in Longview, Wash., in 1968.

Walter was married to Effie Josephine (Alto) Nelson for 42 years and had two children, Walter David and wife Joyce, of Oak Harbor, and Virginia Lee (deceased).

He has four grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.

Several years after Effie’s death, he married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth J. Eddy.

Walter and Betty traveled extensively to Norway, Sweden, Russia, Hawaii, Alaska and many other places.

They were proud members of the United Methodist Church in Castle Rock for many years. Elizabeth died in May of 2011 in Kelso, Wash.

In July 2011, Walter moved to Oak Harbor to be near his son.

Walter requested no formal funeral services be conducted.

He will be laid to rest next to his wife Effie at Longview Memorial Park. Remembrances may be made to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor, WA.