Walter Lewis Nelms

NELMS, Lt. Col. (U.S. Army, retired) Walter Lewis, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 3, 2017.
He was born in Hopewell, Virginia on July 19, 1929. A 1948 graduate of Hopewell High School, “Baby” Nelms was a renowned three-sport athlete who earned All State and All Southern honors as a running back. With a full athletic scholarship, he attended and earned a B.A. from the University of Richmond where he played football and ran track and field. For several years, he held the UR record in the 100-yard dash of 9.8 seconds. He was inducted into the Hopewell Athletic Wall of Fame in 2015.
He began his military career in 1948 with the Army National Guard while in college. From there, he went on to become a Ranger, Master Parachutist, and a proud member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. Known throughout the Special Forces as a “soldier’s soldier”, he served four tours of duty in Southeast Asia (Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand) during the VietnamWar. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Air Medal, and numerous other awards and commendations.
During his military career, his wife and children accompanied him to assignments throughout the United States and to the Panama Canal Zone, where they made many treasured friends. Upon retirement, he returned to operate his family business, Southside Virginia Well Drilling Company. He was a founding member of Chapter LIII of the Special Forces Association. He was a member of First Baptist Church and a 32nd degree Mason.
Preceding him in death were his mother, Myra Rivenbark Shaw, step-father, Henry Shaw; sister Dorothy Peters; and his wife and high school sweetheart, Billie Aderholt Nelms. Survivors include his daughter, Marianne Nelms Macon (Edward); son, David Lewis Nelms; grandchildren, Lucy Carter Macon, Mariah Meade Macon, Wilson Lewis Nelms, and Lily Sullivan Nelms. He is also survived by many cherished family members, including his beloved niece Brenda Brewer and Brenda Steele as well as his cousin and lifelong friend, Charlotte Andrews-Fleetwood.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. at J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, 820 West Broadway Avenue, Hopewell, Virginia. A public graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Appomattox Cemetery in Hopewell, Virginia. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in Hopewell or the Richmond SPCA. De oppresso liber. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .