Shirley Elaine Nelson

Shirley Elaine Wallace Nelson, 98, of Troy, North Carolina, died peacefully Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the home of her daughter, Cheryl Lamonds, where she has been lovingly cared for by her daughter and family for the last 13 years. 

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 1:50 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Phillips Funeral Home in Star, North Carolina, with a funeral service immediately following at 2 p.m. The officiant will be the Reverend Steve Wilkinson. Interment will take place on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 2 p.m. at National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois.

Shirley E. Wallace was born August 25, 1926, to Carl and Grace (Meyer) Wallace, in Moline, Illinois. She graduated from Moline High School. She married George H. Nelson on July 10, 1949, in Moline. And then the adventure began. They took their honeymoon on an Indian motorcycle, traveling throughout the northern United States and Canada. Mom could still fit into her motorcycle jacket to the end.

Shirley was the dutiful Army wife and followed George to most of his assignments. Along the way they had son Lou Gene in Texas and Cheryl Eileen in West Germany. Wherever they were, Mom was a faithful Christian, Sunday School teacher, and active in the Protestant Women of the Chapel. When Dad finally retired after over 30 years of Army service, they retired to their hometown of Moline. During the many months her husband was assigned to places the family could not travel, Shirley took art lessons and exhibited quite a talent for painting. Many of her works are the prized possessions of her extended family. One was hung in the Fellowship Hall of First Christian Church of Moline, the church she grew up in and where she returned after her husband’s retirement. She was warmly embraced for decades by her fellow parishioners. She was recognized by several successive pastors as being a true Disciple of Christ for her extensive knowledge of the Bible and desire to share her devotion.

Survivors include brother Terence Grant (Jamie) Wallace of Kalamazoo, Michigan; one son, LTC Lou (Iwona) Nelson, retired USA, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; one daughter, Cheryl Lamonds, of Troy, North Carolina; seven grandsons, Chris (Shelby) Nelson of Atlanta, Georgia, Andrew Nelson of Clarkston, Georgia, Jeffrey Nelson of Seattle, Washington, step-grandson Maciej Adaszewski of Atlanta, Georgia, James (Christina) Lamonds of Seagrove, North Carolina, Matthew (Heather) Lamonds of Star, North Carolina, Liam (fiancée Hayley) Lamonds of Ether, North Carolina, and bonus granddaughter Shelly (Brian) McDaniel of Danville, Virginia; great grandchildren Dylan Lamonds, Krista Lamonds, Alyssa Lamonds, Faith Lamonds, step great granddaughter Aura Blue, bonus great granddaughter Desiree McDaniel; great great granddaughter Maisie Jo Lamonds, and bonus great great granddaughter Holland Smith.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, George, her mother and father, her brother Don Meyer Wallace, and son-in-law Barry Lamonds.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to all of her caregivers over the years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Shirley’s name to Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, FDR Station PO Box 220, New York, NY 10150; Youth Hope, 3928 12th Avenue, Moline, Illinois, 61265; Disciples of Christ – Board of Church Extension, P.O. Box 7030, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46207, or another organization of your choice.

The Nelson family is being served by Phillips Funeral Home in Star.