Dessie N. Nelson

She was born at home on Timber Ridge in Pendleton County, West Virginia, the fifth of 12 children born to Robert and Gertie Ketterman.

On Dec.2, 1945, she married Paul H. Nelson, who preceded her in death on Nov. 28, 2012, just three days before their 67th wedding anniversary.

Surviving are three daughters, Dorothy Jones of Elkins, Bonnie Luna and husband, Luis, of Salisbury, Maryland, and Donna Nazelrod and husband, David, of Elkins. Also surviving are her sister, Anna Popkins of Winchester, Virginia; brother, Herman Ketterman and wife, Linda, of Beverly, sister, Jane Johnson and husband, Robbie, of Winchester; numerous nieces and nephews; and devoted friend, Shirley Riffle of Beverly.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Elva, Charlie, Vina, Ethel, Louella, Loraine, Virgie and Bardon; her sister-in-law, Bonnie Halleen Hevener Rogers; brothers-in-law, David Leon, Harold and William “Buck” Nelson; and son-in-law, Jim Jones.

After attending the schools of Pendleton and Randolph vounties, Dessie raised her children in Glady, West Virginia, while her husband maintained tracks for the Western Maryland Railroad. The family then moved to Elkins, where she was employed at Reidbord Brothers for 13 years. She also worked at home as a seamstress and was the bookkeeper for Nelson Excavating and at Nelson Trailer Park on Chenoweth Creek in Elkins.

Dessie was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Glady, and of First Baptist Church and then Landmark Baptist Church in Elkins. Over the years, she raised funds for school and church activities and taught Sunday school.

She is remembered for being a devoted wife and mother, an avid gardener, and a generous soul.

The family offers special thanks to Darlene Hornbeck for providing tireless and compassionate care for Dessie during the last 15 months of her life.

The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at 1 p.m. The Reverend Doctor Ken Shiflet will officiate and interment will follow at the Maplewood Cemetery at Elkins, West Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dessie Nelson may be made to WV Caring, P. O. Box 760 Arthurdale, WV 26520 of the Randolph County Humane Society, P-. O. Box 785, Elkins, WV 26241.

The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Dessie Norma Ketterman Nelson.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.