Colonel Frank Leroy "Lee" Nelson was born on Aug. 19, 1933, in a log cabin in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side on July 10, 2024, in Kirkland, Washington.
Lee moved to Washington state at age 10 with his parents, Frank and Agate, and younger brother, Darwin, settling in Wapato. He found his calling as a young boy, saying he wanted to be “an airplane driver.” After graduating from Wapato High School, he enrolled at Central Washington University and majored in geography with a teaching certificate. He also was an Air Force ROTC graduate. He later earned a master’s degree in psychology and counseling from Troy University in Alabama.
It was also at Central that Lee met Donna Dee Davenport, the love of his life. They were married in September 1955 and shared an adventurous 68 years together. His military career spanned almost 25 years in which he flew the B-47 and B-52 bombers. He flew over 150 combat missions in Vietnam in his favorite airplane, the F4-C Phantom jet, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross among other medals and honors. Years later, he was featured in a TV show “Wings” episode about Vietnam War reconnaissance pilots and missions.
Lee's career took him and his family to many countries, including Japan and Italy, where he worked with NATO forces. In each country, Lee took time to photograph, sketch and paint local scenery. Donna and Lee collected art and antiques as they traveled.
They retired in 1979 to Donna’s hometown of Chehalis, Washington. He used his artistic talent and wonderful sense of design for a second career in house design, drafting many plans for family and friends. Lee was active in the community and a founding member of the Twin Cities Rotary Club. As a Rotarian, he found a community and opportunities for service that he had enjoyed in the military. He found the perfect third career that embodied all his skills in Personnel at WIDCO and enjoyed 10 years there.
Lee loved photography and carried his camera over three continents. He loved hunting, training his golden retriever, and playing guitar and banjo. Lee also loved cars, especially his ’53 Studebaker. He was a Boy Scouts leader, winning Best Overall Troop at a jamboree in Europe, basketball coach, United Way fundraising leader, and a builder of duck ponds and gazebos. He carried a book to read with him wherever he went.
Earning a minor in art at Central, Lee was a talented artist from a young age, sketching and painting with watercolors and oil. He loved to carve, crafting wood boxes and walking sticks as presents for his family. Lee was up every day at 5 a.m., coffee in hand, working on something. He did more by 8 a.m. than most people do in a whole day. To the core a wonderful person and a true Renaissance Man, Lee inspired his family and friends through his talent, actions, kindness and love.
Lee and Donna lived a beautiful life together and have four children: Shawn, Frank Jr., Daniel, and Stacy. Lee is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Rainier, Luke, Natalie, Alexander, Maxwell, Drake, Ella, Connor, Aidan, Annastacia and Katherine, and a great-grandson, Rune. He is survived by his brother, Darwin, also retired USAF Colonel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Agate and Frank Nelson, and infant son, Erick Frank.
Lee was laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent, Washington, on July 23 with military honors. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, reflecting Lee’s lifelong commitment to service, veterans and community.
Colonel Frank Leroy "Lee" Nelson will be remembered for his service to his country and community, his art, his dedication to family and his unwavering kindness. He was a true gentleman and leaves behind an inspiring legacy of love and action. Lee is deeply loved and missed by his family and all who knew him.
All who knew Lee are welcome to share their memories and photographs on the Tribute Wall dedicated to him online at Flintofts.com/obituaries or type this link into your browser: https://gb774.app.goo.gl/HuWde
