Simon Whitaker Nelms, son of the late James Archie and Elsie Curtis Nelms, died December 13, 2021, at age 93. He was born February 13, 1928, and was a lifetime resident of Newport News, Virginia. Si graduated from Newport News High School in 1945 and attended VMI, before transferring to William & Mary. He graduated from the Engineers Officer Candidate School in 1952 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, followed by service in the Korean war with the 934th Engineer Aviation Group (EAG), Special Category Army with Air Force (SCARWAF) at base K55. Following his return, he was in the Insurance business for 40 years, retiring in 1996.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Margaret (Peggy) Faulconer Nelms of Orange, Virginia, and his sister Elsie (Sis) Nelms Nash. He is survived by his daughter, Ann Cary, and her husband RADM(Ret) Nevin Carr, Jr, his son James Whitaker Nelms and his wife Marissa, his brother-in-law John Young Faulconer, brother-in-law Monroe (Rody) Nash, and sister-in-law Janet Faulconer. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Nevin Palmer Carr, III and wife Maddie, James Nelms Carr, Adam Judson Carr and wife Miranda, Elizabeth Cary Carr and Phillip Owsley, Nicholas James Nelms, Russell Whitaker Nelms, and Margaret Rose Nelms, and five great-grandchildren.

Si often said he was blessed with a devoted family, and the best of friends — many of whom dated to his childhood days by the James River, on Huntington Ave in Newport News. He loved sailing and navigating on the James River and the Chesapeake Bay.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at Peninsula Funeral Home.  The CDC highly recommends masks for inside gatherings, per your discretion.   A graveside service will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Newport News on Monday, December 20 at 1:00 PM.  Memorial donations may be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at 505 Eighth Ave, Suite 902, New York, New York 10018, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601