Donald Lee Nelson, 80, of Circleville, passed away Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Grant Rehabilitation and Care Center in Petersburg.
Born August 7, 1943, at Cherry Grove, he was a son of the late Emma Lee Rymer Barkley and the stepson of the late Wardell Barkley.
Donald graduated from Circleville High School and Potomac State College. He attended a 75-week course in Technical Electronics in Hyattsville, Maryland, did an internship at Fairchild Hiller Corporation in Germantown, Maryland, from 1966 to 1970. In 1971, he worked as an intermediate technician at Green Bank Observatory and later as a telescope operator. He had secret security clearance and observed frequencies of 385’ telescopes and 145’ telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). He was a member of the Circleville Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed hunting. His pride and joy were his horses. He loved going on trail rides.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Patty Barkley and Carolyn Steele.
He is survived by two sisters, Judy Warner, of Stafford, Virginia, and Diana Hiner (Darrell), of Cherry Grove; brothers, Kenneth Barkley (Bonnie), of Moorefield, and Richard Barkley (Nancy), of Circleville; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin.
The funeral service will be held at Kimble Funeral Home Friday, July 19, 2024, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Fletcher Hutcheson officiating.
Interment will be at Dry Run Hinkle Cemetery.
Memorials may be made toward his funeral expenses, c/o Krista Hiner, 33 Royal Glen Road, Petersburg, WV 26847.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.kimblefuneralhome.com
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin.
