David Allen Nelsen Sr.

David A. Nelsen, Sr. died Monday, January 28, 2019 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born in Little Rock, August 17, 1927. His parents were Gladys and Richard Nelsen, who as a young man in New Bedford, Massachusetts, after a disagreement with his father, ran away from home and joined the Army during World War I. He changed his name from Lucius Allen Norcross to Richard Nelsen. He met Gladys at Fort Roots and stayed in Arkansas. In addition to his parents, David is preceded in death by a brother, Richard and a sister, Dorothy Morris. David is survived by his wife, Evelyn Rigsbee Nelsen, a brother-in-law, Glen Rigsbee, and one sister, Donna Marie Rosenthal. Also four children, David Nelsen Jr. and his wife Judy, Mike Nelsen, Laura Nelsen, and Mark Nelsen and his wife Marijo. He had five much loved stepchildren, Susie Seaton Walls and her husband David, Frank Seaton, Jr. and his wife Janet, Caroline Seaton Ginn and her husband Robert, Becky Seaton Schug, and Libby Seaton Nix and her husband Robin. He had 15 grandchildren, Paul, Geoffrey, David III, Emily, Caitlin, Christopher, Jason, Steven, Rebecca, Kaily, Ryan, Whitney, Lauren, Wyatt, and Hannah Grace. He had seven great-grandchildren, and a large family of nieces, nephews, and cousins. David was reared in Little Rock and attended Little Rock High School. He skipped his last semester before graduation and joined the Navy, serving four years in the South Pacific, mostly on carriers, the USS Antietam and the USS Bedouin Straits. He returned home and graduated from Hendrix with a degree in Mathematics. He worked in Jonesboro with Craighead County Electric Co-op, then to the Arkansas Highway Department, and spent the last twenty five years of his working life at Arkansas Electric Co-op Corporation. During the 1990's he and Evelyn bought a new car and drove all over the United States, and into Canada and Mexico. (David did the driving, Evelyn navigated.) They took the grandkids all over Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska. They also got to know the New England cousins and learned of David's connection to the Mayflower Billingtons. He dearly loved sports, had tickets to all ASU games, watched the Razorbacks when they were on, and was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinal fan. He was a lifelong Democrat and watched today's news in shock and disbelief as to what was happening to the country he defended. He was Methodist by membership, and universal by heart. He gave great hugs and thoroughly enjoyed having his long dinner table full of friends and family. He spent the last two weeks of his life in the tender care of his step-daughters, two of whom are nurses. They were holding his hand when he died. Evelyn was holding the other. A special thank you to the St. Bernard's Home Health Hospice team for all their special help and the staff at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. They all provided him with great care and compassion. He loved and was much loved by all who knew him. He was truly a good and decent man and we feel sure God welcomed him to Heaven with open arms. Funeral arrangements are with Emerson at 1629 E. Nettleton Ave. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2019. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2019. His body will be cremated and the ashes will be scattered over the Pacific Ocean. The grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers. The family will be at home at 1007 West Washington after the funeral. Online Registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com.