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2022 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 311
Celebrating the life of Wallace Jay Nelson, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2022
Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2022

 

WHEREAS, Wallace Jay Nelson, Jr., beloved husband, father, papa, brother, uncle, and dear friend, passed on January 28, 2022, to be with his Lord and Savior; and

WHEREAS, Wallace “Wally” Jay Nelson, Jr., was born on May 29, 1958, in Arlington to Wallace, Sr., and Helen Nelson; shortly thereafter, the family moved to the Fox Hill area of Hampton, where he and his loving sister Jane grew up; and

WHEREAS, under the athletic coaching and guidance of his father, Wallace, Sr., Wally Nelson developed a love of sports that continued with him throughout his lifetime; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Kecoughtan High School, Wally Nelson proudly went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in economics from Emory & Henry College, a Methodist college which nurtured his faith, fellowship, and friendships; and

WHEREAS, Wally Nelson thrived on bringing people together, whether for a meal, a celebration, or a Virginia Tech tailgate; and

WHEREAS, Wally Nelson loved cooking and considered it an opportunity to serve and share with others, most especially through his refurbished ambulances and “Wally Nelson’s Tech Tailgate Triage,” a popular gathering spot before, during, and after Hokie football games; and

WHEREAS, Wally Nelson’s professional life began at Burlington Industries, where he became the youngest plant supervisor in company history; while at Burlington, he sharpened his professional tools, laying the foundation for an esteemed career in the commercial insurance industry that spanned more than three decades, most recently as Vice President of SIA Group; and

WHEREAS, Wally Nelson committed himself to the betterment of his Southwest Virginia community, demonstrating leadership skills with the Blacksburg Partnership, Junior Achievement, and the Roanoke Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, of which he served as president of the Backbone Club, the group’s recruitment arm; and

WHEREAS, of exceptional note, Wally Nelson served as New River Valley Rail 2020 Co-Chair, helping spearhead the grand effort of bringing passenger rail service to the New River Valley; and

WHEREAS, community outreach intersected with Wally Nelson’s personal passion for golf, where he served as a board member and former president of the Blacksburg Country Club, being known to routinely say, "I've never had a long-term relationship with a golf ball”; and

WHEREAS, as much as Wally Nelson enjoyed his work, community partnerships, and golf, there was no greater joy in his life than his family; and

WHEREAS, Wally Nelson captured the heart and hand of Heather Green Nelson and together they shared 27 years of marriage and blessings; and

WHEREAS, as a father, Wally Nelson was the faith-leader of his family, raising his children in the Methodist Church with love, appreciation, and gratitude; and

WHEREAS, always with a joke, a word of wisdom, or a pun to share that would match any situation, Wally Nelson greeted every day with a joyful spirit that brought great happiness to those around him; and

WHEREAS, Wally Nelson will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Heather; his children, Crandall, Wallace III, Krystine, and Katherine, and their families; his sister, Jane; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Wallace Jay Nelson, Jr., a highly admired and respected husband, father, grandfather, and friend; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to his loving wife, Heather, and his children, Crandall, Wallace III, Krystine, and Katherine, as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory and his many contributions to the Commonwealth.