Barbara Nelson (1925-2003)

NELSON

Posted By: Arizona1
Date: 2/4/2003 at 10:27:37

The Daily Nonpareil
3 Feb 2003

Barbara Wadsworth Nelson

A memorial service for Barbara Wadsworth Nelson, 77, will be at the St. Francis Worship Center, 238 So. 6th St., at 10 a.m. Thursday.

She died Jan. 18 in Minneapolis after a lengthy illness. She was born in Council Bluffs Sept. 14, 1925, to Earl Hannum and Mildred Scofield. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1943 and attended Grinnell College where she studied vocal music.

Barbara and her first husband, John Wadsworth, traveled in this country, Germany and in Japan as he served 23 years in the Army. They retired in Vermont where he was Commandant for Norwich University. After his death in 1978, she returned to Council Bluffs briefly and then settled in Brevard, N.C., where she married her second husband, John Nelson. They were married 20 years. After his death in 2000, she moved to Minnesota to be near her children and grandchildren.

Barbara was talented in crafts and created silk flowers, rugs, blankets and tole painting. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and in the Music Center, both in Brevard.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Col. John B. Wadsworth Jr. and John L. Nelson, and her son, James Lee Wadsworth.

Survivors include two sons, Todd Wadsworth and John B. Wadsworth III and wife, Sue, and four grandchildren, Christopher, John, Kalyn, and Ben Wadsworth; two sisters, Colleen "Connie" and husband, G. Arthur Bartel, of Council Bluffs, Patricia Osteen and husband, John L., Major General (Ret.), of Brevard and brother Donald Hannum and wife, Judy, of Houston; and many nieces and nephews.

She will be buried with her first husband, John Wadsworth, and son James, at West Point, N.Y. Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be offered to Newton Little Hospice, 7019 Lymnar Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55435 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

©Daily Nonpareil 2003