Otto Martin William Neilson, III "Bill"

Otto Martin William Neilson III "Bill" aged 85, of Sunderland, MD. died Thursday, April 29, 2021, at the Maryland Masonic Home, Cockeysville, Maryland, surrounded by his wife and 5 of his 11 children.

Bill was born and raised in Washington D.C. He was a proud Army veteran and Metropolitan Police Officer, retiring from the Special Operations Division. Bill was also a member of Demolay and was elevated to Master Mason in 1958 at East Gate Lodge #34. He served as Worshipful Master there from 1966 – 1967.

After his retirement from MPD, Bill had several jobs including self- employment. He was head of security at Zayre’s in New Carrollton, MD. and Hutzler’s Department Store in Baltimore. Bill started his own private investigations firm, O.M. Neilson, and Associates. In the 1980’s Bill was employed by the Department of Transportation auditing interstate trucking companies for DOT compliance. That experience led him to start his own DOT compliance company auditing records and being a liaison for the trucking industry with Department of Transportation. Besides his passion for truth and justice, Bill loved ham radios, trains, and airplanes. But none surpassed the love Bill had for his family.

Bill is survived by his wife, Jenny Cash, his children, Samuel Oliver (Kaye) of Hughesville, MD; Deborah McGuigan (CW), of Littlestown, PA; O.M.W. (Billy)Neilson IV (Pam), of Shanks, WV; Mary Martines (Jeff), of Monrovia, MD; Hope Benson (David) of Bowie, MD.; John Neilson of Laurel, MD.; Roberta Kolb (Richard) of Harper’s Ferry, WV; Judy Neilson of Sykesville, MD., Rose Talbot of Chesapeake Beach, MD.; and David Szwed of New Orleans, LA. He was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Robin Oliver.

He is also survived by 16 grandchildren: Grace Sheuch, Melisa Dixon, Billy Neilson, Danny Neilson, Krista Campbell, David Benson, Richard Kolb, Amber Kolb, Zachary Hamby, Michael Benson, Cheyenne Ward, Randy Gray, Danielle Kolb, Ryan Gray, Ryan Talbot, Amelia Talbot, and 6 great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 11:00 AM at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 8603 Contee Rd. Laurel, MD. 20708. Inurnment will be at Cheltenham Veteran’s Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at  https://act.alz.org/donate.