Robert Arthur Nelson

Chillicothe, Ohio – Robert (Bob) Arthur Nelson was born October 1, 1928 in LaPorte, Indiana to Irene and Arthur Nelson.  He was almost 97 when he passed away on June 26, 2025.

     When he was a child, Bob's family moved several times before settling in Indianapolis, Indiana.  In fifth grade, he had a neighborhood route selling Colliers Companion and American Magazine door-to-door.  When he later worked for the Mead Corporation, he learned that its Chillicothe mill manufactured the paper for those magazines.

     After high school, Bob attended Purdue University to study forestry.  In his senior year, he dated Darleen Andrews (his future wife).  After graduation, Bob worked for U.S. Forest Service in Alaska.  However, the day he arrived in Alaska, the Korean War began and he was drafted into the Army.  Without the Korean War, he believed he may have had a career in Alaska.

     Because Bob was an amateur photographer, he was trained in the Signal Corps an aerial photography instructor.  Following six months of service, he and Darleen were married on August 12, 1951 at the Presbyterian Church on the Purdue Campus.

     Within a week of his discharge, Bob accepted a position with the Mead Corporation as a wood buyer in Indiana and Kentucky.  He was transferred to Chillicothe, Ohio after four years to start a timberland buying program, eventually becoming manager of the Wood Department.  During his last five years with the company, he worked on the Corporate Woodlands Staff as Asset Manager and Vice-President of Mead Land Sales.  When he retired after 35 years, Bob received the Society of American Foresters Fellow Award, one of the highest honors for members of SAF, the national forestry professional organization.

     Darleen and Bob had three daughters who all went to the Unioto Schools where Bob was elected to the school board for three terms.  He was one of the founders of the Sixth Grade Conservation Camp and participated in it for over 60 years. Bob and Darleen were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Chillicothe where Bob was the Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 5 and sang in the Adult Choir. He also served the Church as a Deacon, Elder, and Trustee.

     Darleen and Bob loved to travel. They took their family on trips to the beach, camping and canoeing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to meet distant relatives in Norway and Sweden, and on cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean.  Darleen and Bob were proud to have visited every US National Park except on the island of Samoa.

     After he retired from Mead, Bob served on the Chillicothe Tree Commission. He was a long-time member and past President of the Ross County Historical Society.  He served as Chairman of RCHS's Building Committee, leading a successful campaign to build the Heritage Center. In 2003, Bob was presented the Kiwanis Statehood Day Achievement Award for his community efforts. 

     Bob will be extremely missed by his loving family.  He was predeceased by his parents, wife Darleen, younger brother Ronald Frederick Nelson, and sister-in-law Marjorie Smith.  Bob is survived by daughters Linda Ruth (Bill) Nelson-Mayson, Coreen Ann (Steve) Jarvis, and Tamara Lynn (Dan) Martin; grandchildren Eric (Kara) Mayson, Jessica (Ben) Jarvis-DeKraker, Robert (Emily) Jarvis, Sarah (Jon) Rozevink and Andrew Martin; great-grandchildren Parker and Westin Rozevink and Ruby Martin; sisters-in-law Carol Nelson and numerous nieces and nephews.

     Visitation at WARE FUNERAL HOME is Friday, September 19th, 6-8 pm.  A Celebration of Life at the First Presbyterian Church is Sunday, September 21st, 1 pm.  Come share your favorite Bob stories! Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church and the Ross County Historical Society.

     Arrangements are under the direction of the WARE FUNERAL HOME.  You may sign his online register at warefh.com

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