George B. Nelson III died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at River Region Medical Center. He was 79.

Born and raised in Hazlehurst, he had been a resident of Vicksburg since 1968. He was the son of the late George B. Nelson Jr. and Willie Mae Strahan Nelson. He was a graduate of Louisiana State University where he received a degree in industrial engineering.

Mr. Nelson served in the Air Force during the Korean War and later retired from Westinghouse and Bechtel. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, sports fan (LSU) and enjoyed traveling with his wife, Sara. He was a member of Yokena Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by wife, Sara Grant Nelson of Vicksburg; two daughters, Karen Sanders (Bill) of Vicksburg and Tammy LaGrone (Barry) of Clinton; son, Robert B. Nelson of Vicksburg; granddaughter, Amy LaGrone of Clinton; grandson, Bryan LaGrone of Clinton; a sister, Isabel Ray of Wesson; nieces and nephews and the extended Grant Family; special buddies, Benjamin Hayes Grant and Mylie Joyce Nelson.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Riles Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Michael Herrin, pastor of the Yokena Presbyterian Church and Robert Andrews, pastor of the Cross Point Church, officiating. Burial will be at the Hazlehurst City Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. Monday. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday until the service. Memorials may be made to the Yokena Presbyterian Church.

Pallbearers will be Bryan LaGrone, Ben Grant, Cody Grant, James E. Turner, Todd Houston and David Brabham.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. David Gunter, Billy Wyatt, George Russum, Bobby LaGrone, Billy Frank Farrell, Jesse Davenport and Ray English, and the friends of Yokena Presbyterian Church.