Kenneth Holmes Nelson

Kenneth Nelson was born in Merced, California, February 20, 1940. He passed away July 3, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. At age seven, he moved with his parents, George and Deborah Nelson, to Duxbury, Massachusetts, where he grew up. He graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1962. He served two years in the US Army, from 1962-1964. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy, where he lived, married, and worked for eight years. He showed his paintings in Italy and the United States and his paintings are contained in collections in Europe, Australia, and the United States. He moved to northwest North Carolina in 1979, where his paintings reflected the light and colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He taught painting at Wilkes Community College when he first came to North Carolina. He was an avid mountain and road biker and hiker. He enjoyed family, friends, music (especially classical and jazz), and good food. 

He is survived by his wife, Jenny, one son and daughter-in-law, and three brothers and their wives. 

Online condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kenneth Holmes Nelson, please visit our floral store.