Frederick Nelson Stover

August 18, 1945 - May 4, 2023

Frederick Nelson Stover, born in Robinson, Ill, graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School, in South Bend, Ind. in 1963 and Purdue University with a BSc in Computer Science and Minors in English and Philosophy in 1967. He financed his education by working as head waiter in a men's dormitory and as the Interim United Church of Christ (UUC) campus minister in his final year of college. He met Elaine Kay Williams, his future wife, during the assignment. They married on June 10, 1967.

Nelson graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1970. He was ordained into the UCC and assigned to its social ministry. His association with the Ecumenical Institute (EI) from 1964 to 1970 led to a staff position with EI and with its sister organization, the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA).His ministry took Nelson to the Appalachian Mountains in the USA, Australia, Egypt and India, where he facilitated a wide range of grassroots human development movement training and comprehensive community development, planning and evaluation programs in Australia, Egypt, the Appalachia, Mountains, and India. The Adivasi Ashram Shalla in Chikhale Village School, located outside Panvel, India, held a special place in Nelson's heart. He helped establish this school to educate tribal children, a population who was historically denied education. The school opened with only a first grade class. Over the years, additional grades were added, and today, it is a thriving first through twelth grade school. While living in Belgium, Nelson used his unique facilitation and computer skills to design and implement office information systems and web-based Constituent Managed Relationship systems for Belgian companies and NC non-profit associations.

In 1991, the Stover family moved to North Carolina (NC) to serve as the Associate Director for the NC Poverty Project's Influential Sectors program. From 1993-2003 he worked as a technical support staff at Intelligent Technologies in Greensboro, NC. Throughout his adult life, Nelson's relationship with ICA continued through his participation in shaping the future directions of ICA-USE's Community Revitalization Team and his service on the board of ICA-USA as representative of their international and later as President of the Board of Directors of ICA International. During the 1990s, he was involved in the ICA-Greensboro initiatives such as LifeStyle Simplification, Sustainable Development, Technologies of Participation®, and Fostering Global Understanding.

Nelson was an active member in the community. He was a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church and served a three year term on their Board of Directors. He also served on the Sandy Ridge Correctional Center Community Relations Council and was a president of the Square-Dancing Club. In addition, the Stovers were founding members of the Center for Ecozoic Studies and served as Treasurer of the Board and chair of their curriculum development team for five years.

In 2013, Nelson helped found Emerging Ecology, a non-profit dedicated to building mutually enhancing relationships between people and the Planet. He served as the chair of the board from 2013-2023. The organization conducts various contextual programs, public presentations, capacity building and the global classroom. Nelson dedicated his life to serving the underserved and working effectively with socially and economically diverse populations. In doing so, he brought joy to many and made the world more beautiful.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at the Unitarian Church of Greensboro, 5603 Hilltop Road, Jamestown, NC 27282.

Forbis and Dick Guilford Chapel is serving the family and online condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com

Published by Greensboro News & Record on May 7, 2023.

08/12/2023 EJS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/greensboro/name/f-stover-obituary?id=51821657&fhid=6501