COCHITUATE: Herbert Joseph “Herb” Nelson, Jr. 78, died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 15, 2010 at the West Roxbury Veterans Administration Hospital following a brief illness.
He was born in Boston on December 9, 1931 the son of the late Herbert J. Nelson and Anne (Hennebry) Nelson.
He is survived by his living wife of 52 years, Patricia K. (Weeks) Nelson of Cochituate. He was the beloved father of Kathleen Espanet and her husband Rick of Hopedale; Barbara MacKenzie and her husband Scott of Westfield, NJ; Patricia Hettler and her husband Ken of Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Anne Finkelstein and her husband Martin of Palm Harbor, FL and Thomas Nelson and his wife Christina of Astoria, OR. He was the cherished grandfather of Ian, Grace, Brenna, Kevin, Ashley, Brooke, Hannah, Mark, Erin, Brian, Abigail, Benjamin, Cameron and Casey. Brother of William Nelson of Bellingham; John Nelson of Holliston; Mary Lou Ballard of Framingham and the late James Nelson. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Herb has been a resident of Cochituate for over 50 years and spent his formative years in Cambridge before moving to Framingham where he graduated from Framingham High School.
He served his country proudly as a Corporal with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He had a long career as a truck driver for over forty years beginning with Yale Transport in Worcester and retiring from ABF Trucking of Shrewsbury. He was a member of local 170 Teamster in Worcester. For many years he was associated with the food service department of the Wayland Public Schools and for 15 years was devoted to student athletes at Wayland as their bus driver to and from their athletic events. Heb could be seen in the stands always watching them play their sports.
He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by them. His family was the center of his life and he always delighted in being with them.
Visitations will be held on Sunday, June 20, 2010 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in the Bryant Memorial Chapel of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Route 30) Cochituate.
Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 9:00 am followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Zepherin Church, Route 27, Cochituate.
Interment will follow in the Nelson family lot in Lakeview Cemetery in Cochituate.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests memorial gifts in Herb’s memory sent to Teamsters Local 170 Scholarship Fund, 330 S. W. Cutoff, Worcester, MA 01604 would be appreciated.