Margaret E. Thomas Eddelman Nelson
February 5, 1932 ~ September 10, 2020
Margaret E. Thomas Eddelman Nelson, 88, of Columbus, died at 3:47 a.m. September 10, 2020, at Columbus Regional Hospital.
Margaret was born February 5, 1932, in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Hobert and Nellie M. Sullivan Thomas. She was married to her first husband, Dale Eddelman, for 32 years before his passing May 9, 1986. She then married Robert C. Nelson October 17, 1992; he preceded her in death November 19, 2018.
She attended Franklin College and worked in the President’s office at the college. Margaret was also employed as a secretary for Dr. C. O. Weddle and First Baptist Church.
Margaret was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where she was involved in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Bible study classes, and volunteered in several positions. She enjoyed sewing, traveling, and gardening.
“I love you all and pray God’s love and blessings will lead and guide you throughout your life and beyond.”, Margaret.
A private graveside service will be held September 18 at Garland Brook Cemetery with a memorial service for family and friends to be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Foundation or the donor's choice of charity in memory of Margaret.
Survivors include her sons, Eric (Susan) Eddelman of Brown County and Alan (Judie) Eddelman of Columbus, and stepsons, David (Lisa) Nelson of Hastings Nebraska and Richard Nelson of Avon Indiana; sister, Joyce Verhagen of North Judson, Indiana; grandchildren, Patrick (Alexandria) Eddelman, Erica (Anthony Ryan) Eddelman, Daniel (Rachel) Eddelman, Kaitlyn (Jake) Champlin, Brenna Eddelman, and Lauren (Jacob) Hamblin; and great-grandchildren, William and Eleanor Eddelman.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Dale and Robert; and three brothers and one sister.
Arrangements provided by the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.
You are invited to light a virtual candle and send a message to the family via the funeral home website, www.jewellrittman.com.
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This month I lost a dear friend. We first met fifty years ago when my husband Harold and I moved to Columbus, Indiana, in April of 1970, along with our two sons, Jeff and Neil, and our daughter Joy, and we have been friends ever since.
As often happens when the years pass into decades, Margaret and I had in recent times begun to lose touch, but I still have many happy memories to revisit. What stands out most among these are the trips to Gulf coast Harold and I would make each winter with her and her husband, Bob. For a number of years, Florida became our home base for seafood restaurants, games of Bridge, and views of the beach.
While I will miss our rapport, conversations, and the laughs we shared, I will always cherish my friendship with Margaret and be glad for having known her special spirit.
Shirley Mincey, Marion Iowa
Beautiful in Blue was purchased for the family of Margaret E. Thomas Eddleman Nelson.
I will always have fond memories of you Aunt Margaret. You are in my thoughts and prayers. With love, Sherry Eddelman Bornman.
Mom,
It is a great lost to all who know you. I am sure God will have open arms to welcome you in the heaven. You will reunion with dad (Dale). Thanks for all the helps and care for us throughout the years. Without you we wouldn’t be whom we are now. You, Dad, Eric, and Alan were the first one we met when we arrived to Columbus in August 1975. I can’t ever forget all of the good memmories with your family. I used to say I can’t ever repay for you helping us to settle down in Columbus, but I vowed to help others who need help on your behalf. May you live in peace. LOVE You, mom. 🙏🙏🙏😥😪😢😭❤️❤️❤️❤️
To Eric and Alan,
Sorry for the news brothers.
Take care. 🙏🙏🙏😥😪😢😭❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nang Bui
Margaret was a dear neighbor that we will always remember. She and Bob were so kind to our family. We just loved them both! Our boys will forever refer to the house next door as “Margaret and Bob’s” house. May they both Rest In Peace. Prayers for your family during this time.
Florist Choice Bouquet was purchased for the family of Margaret E. Thomas Eddelman Nelson.
Hung & Theresa Bui purchased the Peaceful White Lilies Basket for the family of Margaret E. Thomas Eddelman Nelson.
On April 29, 1975 (45 years ago), a frightened Vietnamese family of 10 fled a home country only one day before the fallen day to the hands of the unwelcomed communist regime with an unknown risk of life or death situation.
With the grace of God, the kind hearts of a group of several members of the First Baptist Church of Columbus, and a truly special family (Dale, Margaret, Eric and Alan Eddelman) took this family into their loving arms to sponsor them and helped them in every possible way to be on their own feet. But, it did not end there. From the very beginning, they had a special love to this special person by the name of Margaret. But she was not known as Margaret, she has always been known all along as “Mom” as this explains well of their close loving relationship to this family.
My name is Cuong Bui who was one of those privileged 10 and was only 8 years old at the time. Even though we all have grown up with families and successes and moved to different cities and states, we have been closed to Mom to check up on her on the phone. Some of us were blessed to be able to visit her.
On behalf of my family, we’ve been grateful to have Mom in our lives. Our hearts are heavy with sadness right now.
Dear Eric and Alan,
We are stricken with disbelief and are extremely sad. We feel the same as you do of Mom as if she is blood related.
We all love you so much “MOM”! Rest in peace in heaven.
Magaret is not just a sponsor, but a mom of the Bui family.
Mom,
It is a great lost to all of us. I am sure GOD will have opened arms to welcome you in the heaven. You are reunioning with dad (Dale) finally. Without the help from the members of First Baptist Church especially from your family, we are not where we are with many blesses. Cuong spoke well on our behalf. I used to say I may not be able to pay back to all church members including you with all the help, but I vowed to help others who need help on your behalf. Our hearts will be always with you, mom. We have never missed X-mas to each other since 1975. From now on, I will miss your X-mas cards.
May you live in peace with Holy God.
Love you dearly Mom.
Dear brother Eric and Alen,
My heart will be always with you. Sorry for the lost brothers.
Take care 🙏🙏🙏😥😪😢😭❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sincerely,
Nang Bui
Margaret was a long time employee of my office. She was a loyal and efficient employee. She was always caring to everyone. Our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. CO and Laurel Weddle
The Bui Family purchased the Peace Eternal Wreath for the family of Margaret E. Thomas Eddelman Nelson.