Barbara Nelson

Barbara W. Nelson Barbara W. Nelson of Sunnyside died Friday at Sun Terrace Retirement Home. She was 91. Barbara was born October 7, 1924 in Marion, Ohio. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1946, majoring in International Relations in Political Science. She went to work for the United Nations in the Secretariat, then with the US Delegation. Barbara and her roommate travelled from New York to California and back in her Studebaker convertible during one summer, staying in national park hostels and with friends. She also travelled throughout Europe on her own in 1950. Barbara married Mark Nelson in 1952. They moved to Washington in 1955, then Oregon, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Minnesota and back to North Carolina. During this time Barbara got her teaching credentials and taught in various schools around the country. They retired and built a home near Colima Mexico in 1997. She returned to North Carolina when Mark’s health deteriorated seven years later. She moved to Zillah to live with her youngest son, Eric, after Mark’s death in 2006 and lived in Zillah, then Sun Terrace Retirement Home in Sunnyside. She has been very active in her church, water aerobics, a quilting club, playing bridge and bingo. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Zillah. In addition to her husband, Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Nancy Wheat and brother Donald Warner. She is survived by her four children, Loring Beth Cain, Andrew Nelson, Peter Nelson and Eric Nelson; 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. There will be a private ceremony held with family members. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Community Services Food Bank at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Zillah. Condolences can be sent to www.valleyhillsfh.com Valley Hills Funeral Home in Sunnyside is in care of all arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Nelson, please visit our flower store.