MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. — Ruth Harding Nelson, 87, of Merritt Island, passed away Monday, June 7, 2010. Ruth was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Pilot Mountain, the oldest of five children born to Aaron Speer Harding and Pearl Iska Clifton Harding.

She spent most of her childhood in Pilot Mountain and, during World War II, moved to Baltimore, working at IBM until the end of the war. Upon her return to Pilot Mountain, she renewed her courtship with Sgt. Peter Riley Nelson, who had served four years in the Army.

In 1946, they were married and moved to Daytona Beach, where Peter Riley Jr. and Linda were born. The family moved back to Pilot Mountain in 1949 where sons Chuck, Andy and Dale were born. For the next 12 years, Ruth worked as a hair dresser and became active in politics, running for Register of Deeds and serving as a delegate from North Carolina in the 1960 Republican Convention in Chicago.

In 1961, the family moved to Palm Harbor, where they owned and operated a motel and Ruth worked as a medical assistant. Throughout her life, Ruth enjoyed fishing, always catching fish bigger than Pete’s which tested his good nature. She also enjoyed travel, and she and Pete made several trips across the U.S. and into Mexico.

She was “Nana” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, spoiling them whenever possible.

Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Pete; and is survived by Peter Riley Jr. (Jan) of Spring Valley, Calif., Linda Jones of Burlington, N.C., Chuck (Gale) of Merritt Island, Andy of Cocoa Beach and Dale of Safety Harbor; grandchildren, Heather, Chris, Shauna, Morgan, Peter Riley III, Andrea, Patrick and Joseph; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Henry Harding of Pilot Mountain; and sister, Margie Harding Gravitt of Richmond, Va. She is survived by brothers, Corky and Earl Harding of Pilot Mountain.

A family and friends celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, at the First Methodist Church of Pilot Mountain.