Roy Wilfred (Skip) Nelson, 63, died at his home in LaPlata on June 4, 2009.

Skip recently retired from a position as Supervisory IT Specialist with the Department of the Navy at Indian Head, where he had worked for 33 years, receiving frequent recognitions for his development and delivery of training and equipment used by the naval fleet.

Skip was a devoted husband and father; a thoughtful, inventive problem-solver; and a loyal friend. He was an active member of LaPlata United Methodist Church and frequently volunteered his time and talents to anyone in need. He enjoyed participating in Nascar and local racing events with his sons and remained in contact with ATO fraternity brothers throughout his life.

Born in McKeesport, PA, Mr. Nelson was raised in Clairton, PA, where he excelled in sports and rose to the rank of Eagle Scout. A stand-out football star in high school, he earned an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in business administration. While there, he played collegiate football, competed in track and field events, and was elected president of the Zeta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

Following graduation, Mr. Nelson served in the US Army as an engineer at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He returned to PA to work with the HJ Heinz Company before moving to MD in 1975.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Wilfred and Anna Sklencar Nelson.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Gillen Nelson; two sons and their wives, Roy Wilfred (Wil) III and Alicia Nelson and Charles Gillen (Chad) and Kaitlin Nelson, both of Mechanicsville; two sisters, Billie Blais of Cornish, ME and Claire Valdesalice and her husband James of Greensburg, PA; father-in-law Charles Gillen of Clairton, PA; brother- and sister-in-law Charles and Debbie Gillen of Wilmington, Ohio; long-time friend Aurelio Azpiazu of Prince Frederick, MD; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on June 19 at Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, Charlotte Hall. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 20 at Brinsfield-Echols, with burial to follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery in Helen, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Prostate Cancer Research, Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd., Washington, D.C. 20007.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home.