Obituary

Doris Riefler Nelson

Posted

Doris Riefler Nelson, of Port St. Lucie, Fl., and formerly of Malverne, died on Nov. 8 at the age of 80. A New York native, Nelson was the beloved wife of Oscar Lawrence Nelson, Jr., and a devoted mother of Kathryn Nelson Buchner, of Greensboro, N.C., and Karen Nelson Plunkett, of Darien, Conn.

Nelson is also survived by seven grandchildren; Kristin Medlin, Karl Buchner, Carolyn Brunn, William Plunkett, Bradley Plunkett, Claire Plunkett and Reade Plunkett; and three great-grandchildren, Dorothy Medlin, Lillian Medlin and Thomas Joseph Brunn.

Nelson was born on Jan. 16, 1930 in Rockville Centre, and graduated salutatorian from Malverne High School in 1947. She was the captain of the girls’ basketball team. She trained as an executive secretary and attended both Katharine Gibbs and Berkeley Secretarial School. Nelson was employed by Continental Baking Co. and P. Lorillard Co. in New York City and later employed by Grace Lutheran Church in Malverne. Doris and Oscar were married in 1955 and lived in Malverne for 31 years until retiring to Port St. Lucie, Fl. in 1986.

Nelson was a member of Grace Lutheran Church for many years; she was president of the District 12 PTA and was also active in the Hempstead Bay Power Squadron and her local softball and tennis leagues. In Florida, Nelson was very active at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Spanish Lakes Tennis and Golf Clubs and the Fort Pierce Power Squadron.

Reposing at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Road, Darien, Conn. Funeral will be private. Interment at Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, N.Y.