EDMONDS — Frederick Nelson, who founded Lynnwood Honda in 1981 and who showed up for work every day with a smile, died Feb. 26. He was 94.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers St., Edmonds. A reception immediately follows the service at the Edmonds Yacht Club, 326 Admiral Way, Edmonds.
Nelson is best remembered for his winning smile and his ability to foster a family feeling with the employees of his dealership. Those qualities helped him steer the dealership during the 30 years it has been in business in Edmonds.
“Fred was iconic in the area’s automobile business,” said Kent Chaplin, owner of Chaplin Motors in Bellevue and North Bend. “Anyone who interacted with Fred had to smile. His impeccable integrity and work ethic is what made him so successful.”
Nelson was a second-generation automobile dealership owner. His family owned Nelson Chevrolet in Ballard. He joined the family business after serving in the Army, stationed in Japan following World War II.
He moved to Sedro-Woolley where he owned and operated Fred Nelson Chevrolet. He moved to Edmonds in 1981 when he founded Lynnwood Honda.
Nelson’s children, Erik Nelson and Wendy Nelson Popke, joined Lynnwood Honda in 1984. They currently manage the business.
Nelson’s daily routine included coming to work, dressed in his trademark suit and tie, and walking throughout the dealership chatting with everyone.
He kept this routine until the last month of his life.
“His interaction with the staff was always as much as a friend, not a boss,” said Erik Nelson. “He always knew what was going on in everyone’s lives: college applications, babies, injuries. He made the term ‘family business’ mean something, not just a cliche.”
There are 11 employees who worked at Lynnwood Honda during the entire 30 years of the dealership, said Erik Nelson.
He never said a negative word about anyone and always looked on the positive side of life.
“Fred had a positive spin on everything all the time,” said Robb McCalmon, sales manager, Lynnwood Honda. McCalmon has been an employee of the Edmonds dealership 10 years.
He fondly remembered Nelson’s love of life dressing up for Halloween, his favorite holiday, and celebrating with gusto at the company’s Christmas parties.
Even in the economic downturn McCalmon remarked that Nelson ran the dealership with a positive flair.
“He showed up with a smile on his face and touched everybody he could every day,” McCalmon said.
“He was famous for saying, ‘It will all work out’ and remarkably it always did,” said Erik Nelson. “Just maybe not exactly how you wanted it to.”
Nelson’s work ethic astounded colleagues and family.
“He would go through the mail every day,” said Wendy Nelson Popke. “He would review all the bills and sign all the paychecks. Through this involvement, he kept his finger on the pulse in a simple, effective manner. He was in the business for so long that he could spot things that might be off, and 99 out of 100 he was right.”
He is survived by his children, Paige Nelson; Wendy Nelson Popke and her husband Mike; Erik Nelson and his wife Tamara; step-son Scott Zorn; his sister Bliss Miller; his grandchildren, Andi and Greyson Nelson, Claire and Jack Popke, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family asks that remembrances in his name be made to the PSADA Foundation Honda Professional Automotive Career Training Program, 16101 Greenwood Ave. N. No. 2100, Seattle, WA 98133 or to the Edmonds Salmon Chapter of Trout’s Unlimited, P.O. Box 278, Edmonds WA 98020.
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