Peter "Pete" Angell Nelson

Peter Angell Nelson, 83 of Murrysville passed away peacefully on July 14, 2021.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Norma Nelson, and wife of 41 years, Marjorie (Florwick).  He is survived by two sons and their families; Scott, Elizabeth, Jake, and Alyssa of Wildwood, MO and Craig, Rebecca, Lance, and Sesley of Mechanicsville, VA, as well as brother/sister-in-law Don and Betty Florwick, and their children Jim, Sharon, and Karen.  As an only child born to Everett and Norma in Providence, RI, Pete attended the Providence School System before graduating in 1959 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He came to Pittsburgh as an Associate Engineer through Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s Graduate Training Program before joining the Commercial Atomic Power and Reactor Design Department in Forest Hills. He earned the opportunity to transfer to the newly-created Astronuclear Laboratory in Large, PA to work in the “NERVA” program, a NASA/SNPO project to develop a nuclear-propulsion rocket for deep space applications.  In 1971 he joined Westinghouse’s Electro-Mechanical Division in Cheswick where he was involved in the manufacturing of reactor main coolant pumps, control rod drive mechanisms, and auxiliary and main stop values for Naval and Commercial Nuclear Reactor Plants. In 1994 he transferred to the Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Laboratory in West Mifflin to work on the design of US Navy submarine nuclear reactor propulsion systems before retiring in 1999 with over 40 years of service.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Murrysville, where he ushered for many years.  Pete was a lifelong fan of bluegrass music, playing the banjo and guitar with several Pittsburgh-area bands from 1959 through 1998.  He was also a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Ohio Gun Collectors Association, Pennsylvania Antique Gun Collectors Association, and Colt Collectors Association, and after retirement he became actively involved in collecting antique Springfield Trapdoor carbines and rifles and Colt black-powder revolvers as well as hand-loading the powder ammunition for them.  Pete was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed.  A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Murrysville followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m.  Committal service will be in Murrysville Cemetery.  Everyone please meet at the church.  Hart Funeral Home Inc., Murrysville entrusted with arrangements.

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