WILLARD C. NELSON, age 91, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2009. A longtime Murfreesboro resident, Mr. Nelson had for the past several years been living at the Tennessee Veterans Home in Murfreesboro. Mr. Nelson was born in Western North Carolina near Bryson City to the late Grover Cleveland and Sophia DeHart Nelson, and was educated there and at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa. He joined the U. S. Army in 1937 and served two years with the 8th Field Artillery in Hawaii. In 1939, Mr. Nelson enlisted in the Army Air Corps, earning his wings as a crew chief. During WW II, Mr. Nelson saw service in Burma, for which he earned the Bronze Star. After WW II, Mr. Nelson saw additional service in Japan, New York, Tennessee and Europe, and retired in 1959 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. After military service, Mr. Nelson moved to Murfreesboro, and for several years operated a service station at the corner of Memorial Blvd. and Broad St. He was also a manager of Montgomery Bros. Grocery Co. and in 1969, joined Paramount Packaging as a supervisor. He retired from that position in 1979. In 1955, Mr. Nelson joined the Masonic Lodge, and thereafter devoted much of his life to the study and practice of Freemasonry. He was a Past Master of both the Sam Davis Lodge in Smyrna, and the Mt. Moriah Lodge in Murfreesboro, for which he also served several years as Chaplain. Mr. Nelson was also active in the Scottish Rite, having become a 32 degree Mason, and in the York Rite, where he was Royal Arch and Cryptic Mason, and a Commander of the Knights Templar. Mr. Nelson was a Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, and received the Cross and Legion of Honor from the Order of DeMolay. Mr. Nelson also became a member of the Al Menah Temple, Shriners of North America. He was President of the Rutherford County Shrine Club, and served as a Shrine Ambassador. Mr. Nelson was a charter member of Advent Lutheran Church in Murfreesboro, having served as Treasurer and a member of the Church Council. He was preceded in his passing by his loving wife of 61 years, Willa H. Nelson. He is survived by his son, Jack Nelson of Murfreesboro, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Wednesday March 4, 2009 at Advent Lutheran Church with Pastor Edward Myers presiding. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4:00PM to 8:00PM Tuesday with a Masonic service at 7:00PM at WOODFIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL. www.woodfinchapel.com. 893-5151.