William Rankin Nelson was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia. He attended the Woodbury Forest School, the University of Virginia, and the UVA School of Medicine. After interning at the Vanderbilt University Hospital, Bill served as an Army Air Force doctor in California, Hawaii, Virginia, and Japan. Bill completed his surgical training at the Medical College of Virginia and at UVA. He then served as a surgical oncology fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. Later, he taught surgery at both the Medical College of Virginia (1958-1962) and the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine (1955-57 and 1962-1987). A fourth-generation physician, Bill specialized in cancer surgery. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons, the British Association of Surgical Oncology, and the Royal Society of Medicine. He served as President of the Colorado Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Society of Surgical Oncologists, and the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons. His honors include the University of Colorado Residents Award for Outstanding Teacher and the American Cancer Society's St. George Medal. Bill also was an active member of the Rotary Club. Along with other physicians and health care workers from Rotary International, he created and staffed the first national health fair in the Fiji Islands. In 2004, he was voted Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Denver. Bill traveled the world and was a student of history. He was keenly interested in Colonial Virginia and was a member of the Page-Nelson Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and First Families of Virginia. He loved Colorado and was an avid hiker and skier. He remained in superior physical shape until 2007, when he was involved in an auto-pedestrian accident. Thereafter, his physical health deteriorated, but his optimism and sense of humor did not. He will be remembered as a gracious and dignified gentleman. Bill's memorial service was held at St. John's Cathedral on Friday, January 21 at 2:00 p.m.

Ashes were buried in the cemetery on Feb 18, 2011 by Nephew Thomas P. Nelson, Jr. Ashes were also scattered in the Colorado mountains by Pam Nelson, his wife, and children.
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Robert W. Nelson Family Bible, 1850 (7.5"x11"x3'), William Rankin, 2nd child of Hugh & Edith Nelson Dec 12, 1921, Charlottesville, Va.
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1930 US Federal Census:
Name: William R Nelson
Birth Year: abt 1922
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Charlottesville, Charlottesville (Independent City), Va
Street address: E High
Ward of City: 2nd pt
House Number: 205
Dwelling Number: 50
Family Number: 85
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Hugh T Nelson 54
Edith R Nelson 43
Thomas P Nelson 9
William R Nelson 8
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Name: William R Nelson
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 12 Dec 1921
Birth Place: Charlottesville, Virginia
Age: 10
Arrival date: 17 Jul 1932
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: President Pierce
Port of Departure: New York, New York
(California Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959)
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1940 US Federal Census:
Name: William R Nelson
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1922
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia
Street: High Street
House Number: 205
Inferred Residence in 1935: Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Va
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 14A
Attended School or College: Yes
Highest Grade Completed: College, 1st year
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members:
Edith R Nelson 56
Thomas P Nelson 19
William R Nelson 18
=========================
Name: William Rankin Nelson
Race: White
Age: 21
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Place: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Birth Date: 12 Dec 1921
Residence Place: Charlottesville, Albemarle, Va
Registration Date: 1942
Employer: University Of Virginia Student
Weight: 150
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 9
Next of Kin: H T Nelson
Household Members:
Name Relationship
William Rankin Nelson Self (Head)
(WWII Draft Cards for Young Men, 1940-1947)
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Name: Dr William R Nelson
Birth Date: 12 Dec 1921
Address: 2005 Franklin St, Denver, CO, 80205-5401 (1993)
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Name: William R Nelson
Birth Date: 12 Dec 1921
Address: 6820 E Mississippi Ave, Denver, CO, 80224-3603
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Name: William Rankin Nelson Rankin
Gender: Male
Death Age: 89
Birth Date: 1921
Birth Place: Charlottesville, Virginia
Residence Place: Colorado
Death Date: 31 Dec 2010
Obituary Date: 16 Jan 2011
Spouse: Pamela Nelson
Child:
John Robert Nelson
Kim Nelson
Robin Russel
Heather Campbell
Sharon Pickens
Melinda Stroupe
Anne Cron
Siblings: Thomas Page Nelson
(U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-current)
===============================
Name: William R. Nelson
Last Residence: 80220 Denver, Denver, Colorado
BORN: 12 Dec 1921
Died: 31 Dec 2010
State (Year) SSN issued: New York (1954-1956)
(U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014)
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Thomas Comment: A military marker request is in progress at of June 26, 2021. First discharge papers were received (posted here) and a request using VA form 40-1330 was sent back. A granite marker was ordered on May 3, 2022. His veteran ID: 58536631 is documented. The marker is expected around July 2022 at the cemetery.