Donald T. Nelson

In Loving Memory of Donald T. Nelson

“Lived so well that even the undertaker is sorry to see you go.”

This afternoon, the world got a little quieter — and heaven got a whole lot livelier — as Donald T. Nelson passed peacefully at Piedmont Hospital, surrounded by the love of his family and the grace of a life well-lived. At 91 years old, Don wrapped up a journey full of faith, family, grit, and good stories. The kind of man who made you feel better just by sitting next to him — steady as a pine, loyal, and as kind as they come.

Born October 9, 1933, in Quincy, Illinois, Don was the youngest of five children and learned early what it meant to stand tall among giants. He didn’t come from wealth, but he came from strength — the kind that doesn’t need to speak loud to be heard. He was cut from a cloth this world doesn’t make anymore. By the time he was a young man, he was already carrying himself like someone older — wiser, maybe even gentler than his years. He grew up watching the world change, and he helped shape it in his quiet, loyal way.

Don served proudly in the Army during the Korean War, later stationed in Germany, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for well-built machines and crisp German beer. It was there he laid eyes on a gleaming 1952 Porsche 356 , a car he adored and regretted selling for the rest of his life. That regret never soured the story, though — if anything, it just made it richer in the telling, which he did often, and with a smile that said he still saw it gliding down the Autobahn.

In 1954, Don married the love of his life, Lois Crouch, and together they built a partnership that stood the test of time. In 1962, they moved to Bradenton, Florida, and by 1968, they had made their forever home in Perry, Georgia. Don worked for four decades with Archer Daniel - Midland, but his legacy went beyond the office. He became the first State Fair Director of the Georgia National Fair, helping to build a celebration of community and tradition that still brings joy to families year after year.

Don and Lois raised two daughters, Cindy Nelson Taylor and Jennifer Nelson Smith, and nothing made him prouder than watching his girls grow into women of strength, grace, and humor. His pride multiplied when he became “Papa” to his four grandchildren: Hannah Crawford & Jack Taylor, and Adam & Will Smith. He carried each of them in his heart — but Hannah held a special place. Don often said she had his personality — clever, kind, a little bit of his stubbornness — and he was never more proud than when he saw how she tenderly loved and cared for Grandma Lois during her battle with cancer. “That girl’s got soul,” he’d say with a tear and a smile.

Don didn’t go anywhere without two things in his pocket: a handkerchief, and a pocketknife. One for wiping away a tear, the other for fixing whatever life threw at you. That right there? That’s Don. Always prepared. Always helping. Always thinking of someone else.

He was a baseball man through and through, and one of his greatest joys was watching his son-in-law, Brooks Crawford, take the field- he's praying you will make your Big League Debut Soon. And when the Braves or the Georgia Bulldogs were on TV, everything else could wait. He cheered with the fire of a UGA freshman and the wisdom of a man who’d seen nearly a century of ball games.

He loved the outdoors — deer hunting , the hum of nature at dawn. He had a soft spot for slot machines and a well-earned love for Jack Daniel’s (on ice, naturally). His stories were timeless, his handshake firm, and his laugh — that low, rolling chuckle — had a way of making a hard day feel lighter.

A man of quiet, unwavering faith, Don helped start four Lutheran churches across South Georgia. When he moved to Athens in 2017, he became a cherished member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church, where he worshipped and served with the same devotion he gave to everything in his life.

Don Nelson wasn’t flashy. He didn’t need to be. He had character. He had heart. He was the kind of man who held the door, tipped his hat, paid his debts, and told the truth. A Southern gentleman not just in words, but in action. The kind this world sees too little of now.

So if you hear the rumble of a vintage engine and the sweet twang of a baseball game on the breeze, maybe that’s Don — cruising heaven in that stainless-steel Porsche, handkerchief in his pocket, the slots always hitting sevens, and a smile on his face.

Heaven didn’t just welcome a man today — it welcomed one of the good ones!

Rest easy, Don.
You taught us how to live with honor, love with all we’ve got, and leave this world better than we found it. We’ll carry your stories — and your light — for the rest of our days.

Burial will take place at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia. Don will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife of 65 years, Lois, at a private family graveside service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to St. Mary’s Health Care System, Highland Hills Village Assisted Living in Watkinsville, Georgia.” Online options for giving to follow.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home WEST has been entrusted with arrangements.