Thomas Walker Nelson

Thomas Walker Nelson, Colonel, US Army Retired and former mayor of Kiawah Island, 97, of Mount Pleasant passed away Franke At Seaside’s Keil Healthcare Center in Mount Pleasant on April 28th, 2026.

Tom was born in Syracuse, NY on May 2, 1928, the son of career Army officer Ola A. Nelson and his wife, Elizabeth (Coughlin) Nelson. As an Army brat Thomas and his two brothers traveled broadly and lived on various military posts including ones in Rhode Island, New York, Maine, (Territory of) Hawaii, and the Canal Zone (Panama). Upon reaching his 17th birthday in May, 1945 Thomas enlisted in the US Army and fondly remembered, upon being given furlough from his post in Delaware, traveling through Times Square on VJ Day.

Tom remained in the Army in the midst of the post-World War II drawdown and graduated from Officer Candidate School in July, 1947 receiving a second lieutenant’s commission in the Signal Corps. Within a year, however, Tom resigned his commission after he gained an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, NY where he graduated with the class of 1952 and regained his commission, but this time as a lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

Tom’s career with the Army was varied and rich. Highlights included his assignment immediately following West Point graduation to post-war West Germany; achieving a master of science degree in nuclear engineering from Iowa State University followed by two six-month stints at Camp Century, Greenland operating a proof-of-concept nuclear power plant; and a tour in Viet Nam supervising construction projects throughout the area of operations. Tom retired from the Army as a full colonel in 1973 after twenty-eight years in uniform.

Tom then started a second career with an environmental engineering firm in Tappan, NY for several years before branching out to lead a study of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin for the states of North and South Carolina. In 1981 Tom and his wife took up residence on Kiawah Island. When the Town of Kiawah Island was established in 1988 Thomas served on the first town council, and in 1990 was elected as the second mayor of Kiawah Island on the heels of the Hurricane Hugo recovery efforts. His term of office focused on establishing sustainable streams of revenue for the young town. In 2008 Tom and his wife moved to the Franke At Seaside retirement community in Mt Pleasant. Tom’s naturally sociable nature led him to develop many close friendships with Franke residents over the next 18 years.

A month after graduating from West Point Tom married his wife of 62 years, Mary Ann (Schmaelzle) Nelson, of Springfield, NJ. A dedicated Army wife, loving mother of five, and avid bridge player and turtle patrol volunteer, Mary Ann willingly shared Tom’s successes and trials, and her passing was a severe blow for Tom. God was good, however, for Tom subsequently met Virginia Rutledge, an active resident of Franke, a loyal daughter of North Carolina, and a perfect match for Tom. They married in October 2015 and led a fulfilling life of socializing, croquet, and family visits. Virginia passed away in September 2025 with Tom by her side.

Tom was a devoted Catholic and an active member of St Benedict Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant. He served as a lector, cherished his time with the parish Cursillo group, and was extremely grateful for the parish’s continuing support during his final illness.

Tom is survived by his five children: John M. Nelson (Marilyn) of Monument, CO; Mark C. Nelson (Anne) of Lee, NH; Paul M. Nelson (Claire) of Kiawah Island, SC; Elizabeth N. Herman of La Grange, IL; and Michael W. Nelson (Sherry) of Mount Pleasant, SC. Tom was also blessed with thirteen loving grandchildren and nine devoted great-grandchildren.

Services are pending and will updated as soon as they are confirmed.