Obituary of Julia D. Nelson

Julia D. Nelson, a lifelong resident of Dutchess County, died at home in Poughkeepsie on Monday. She was in her 95th year. Judy, as she was known, was born in October 7, 1915 to James E. and Julia A. Donahue Davis at her parent's farm on Violet Avenue. She attended the Viola School, and then Arlington High School. At Arlington, she captained the women's basketball team, and graduated in 1933 as the salutatorian of her class. In 1937 she graduated from Ithaca College with academic honors, and shortly thereafter returned to Arlington High School, where she worked as a Physical Education Teacher. While working, she did graduate work in Education at NYU. As her children approached high school age, she studied Library Science at SUNY Albany, and returned to work as a librarian at the Adriance Memorial Library and then Poughkeepsie High School. On June 30, 1947 at St. Mary's Church in Poughkeepsie, she married Donald J. Nelson who survives at home. With her husband she was a regular communicant at Holy Trinity Church in Arlington, an accomplished ballroom dancer and an active member of the Poughkeepsie Tennis Club. She was inducted into the Dutchess County Sports Museum Hall of Fame for her early work in advancing the development of intramural high school athletics. Judy maintained a lifelong interest in the English language, and served as editor for her husband, children and grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Rosemary, at home; her son, D. Peter and his wife, April, of Port Ewen, NY; her son, Jim and his wife, Margaret, her beloved grandchildren, Caroline E. and James E. Nelson, Jr., and her cousin, George J. Davis, all of Poughkeepsie; and her several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Holden and her brother, James E. Davis, Jr. Calling hours will be on Friday, November 27, 2009 from 9 am to 11 am at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. A Mass of Christian Burial at The Church of the Holy Trinity, 775 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, will follow calling hours at 11:15 am. Burial will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, Salt Point Turnpike. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Msgr. Leo J. Gregg Scholarship Fund, c/o The Church of the Holy Trinity.