Raymond Walter Nilson

0 0 1 317 1812 Oak Park Hills Chapel 15 4 2125 14.0 96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE Raymond Nilson Resident of Clayton Raymond Walter Nilson passed away quietly December 12, 2014 from complications associated with diabetes. Ray was born in 1926, to Walter and Clara (West) Nilson of Pleasanton, California. He attended Amador Valley Joint Union High School in Pleasanton and University of the Pacific in Stockton. He earned a Masters in Education at Pepperdine University. Ray served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. In 1950, Ray married Mary Ann Gustafson. Over the course of 62 years together they lived in Stockton, Concord and Clayton, California. They raised five children while working as teachers in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. For most of Rays career he taught Social Studies and Woodshop to students at Pleasant Hill Intermediate School. Students remember his daily question, "Whats new in the world?" as he encouraged them to read newspapers and engage in the news of the greater world. Raymond served in several community and professional organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Mt. Diablo Education Association, and the Experimental Aircraft Association #393. At the age of 48, Ray started flying lessons at Buchannan Field. After obtaining his private pilots license, he built a Christen Eagle II aerobatic stunt plane. In 2000, Rays idea of "retirement" was to begin building an RV-9A single engine, low-wing sport aircraft. With the help of good friends, Ray was able to witness the RV-9 take flight this autumn. Ray is predeceased by his wife Mary Ann Gustafson Nilson and son Mark Raymond Nilson. He is survived by his son David Nilson, of Seattle, daughters Holly Nilson (Carol) of Seattle, Wendy Pike (Stuart) of Costa Rica and Amy Spanne (Alan) of Seattle. He is survived by three grandsons, Javin Nilson Smith and Phillip and Warren Spanne. A memorial will be held Saturday, June 20, 2015 3 p.m. at Buchannan Field at his hangar next to the EAA #393 Club House, 200 Sally Ride Drive. Remembrances may be made to The Mary Ann Scholarship Fund at University of the Pacific, 3601 Pacific Ave, Hand Hall, Stockton, CA 95211 Memorial Service Saturday, June 20, 2015 03:00 pm Buchannan Field 200 Sally Ride Drive Concord California 94520