Roger Hilding Nelson

Roger Hilding Nelson passed from this world on February 2, 2022.

He is survived by sister, Marcia Nelson Fix; son, Mark H. (Ruth) Nelson of Chicago and daughter, Jane Nelson (Anthony) Hutchison of Oklahoma City as well as granddaughters, Hannah Mae Hutchison of New York City and Emma Jane Hutchison of Washington D.C.;  niece, Anne Fix Bowdler (Kevin), Stonington CT, nephew, Peter Fix (Suzanne Patrick), Houston, TX and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha D Nelson M.D. and parents, Hilding A Nelson M.D. and Verna B Nelson.
Roger was born in Kane, PA. on July 24, 1931, and grew up in an extended but close-knit family in Jamestown, NY. Roger attended and graduated from Grove City College with a Bachelor of Science and then also received a second Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. It was there in 1954 that he met the love of his life Martha Jane Dixon, who was attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After marrying, they made their home in Akron, Ohio, where Roger was a chemical engineer for Goodyear Tire and Rubber until his retirement in 1995. He was a devoted husband for 64 years until Martha’s death in 2020.

Roger and Martha were both proud parents of Jane and Mark, who were the focus of much of their lives.

Roger had many interests including visiting lighthouses of North America and participating in activities with the US Army 80th Division because of his father’s service in World War I. He enjoyed classical music, particularly the Akron Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. Roger loved to travel and was especially fond of his Swedish heritage, taking numerous trips to Sweden and connecting with relatives there. He and Martha took their entire family to Sweden for their 50th anniversary on an especially memorable trip.

Most of all, Roger found strength in his faith. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron for over 60 years. Roger served many roles at the church including as an Elder and a long-time member of the Properties Committee. He was best known for his technical expertise overseeing details of the church’s sound system and physical plant. It was through that role that he was able to pursue a childhood interest in broadcasting, serving as the “voice of Westminster” on the church’s weekly radio broadcast on Akron’s WAKR from 1976 – 1994 and the executive producer of WKSU’s “The King of Instruments,” a regular series of organ recitals from around Northeast Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Roger H. Nelson's memory to either the Westminster Presbyterian Church Brideweser Music Endowment Fund, 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44313 or University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering Chemical and Petroleum Department. Memorial gifts can be mailed to the University of Pittsburgh, PO Box 640093, Pittsburgh, PA. 16264-0093z. In the memo field, donors should note:  gift to ChemE/PET in memory of Roger Nelson or giveto.pitt.edu/nelsonmemorial will benefit Chemical and Petroleum Engineering in memory of Roger.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 P.M. SATURDAY, February 12, 2022 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44313. Masks required and physically distancing is encouraged.  Private family graveside service was held at Moore’s Chapel.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.