Navy Veteran, Real Estate Broker and Developer November 23, 1931 - February 4, 2025
Walter Nelson Propps passed away peacefully at his home in Bethesda Maryland on February 4th, 2025.
Walt, known to some as Nelson, was born November 23, 1931 in Washington DC to Walter C. and Evelyn B. Nelson Propps. A descendent of Thomas Nelson Jr. - former Governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Walt grew up in Northeast Washington DC and Lake Barcroft Virginia. He was, as his wife would assure you, very happily married to his college sweetheart Nettie J. Propps for 65 years until her recent death in October 2024. Even though the DC area was his long time home he greatly enjoyed visiting Statesboro Georgia to be with his grandchildren and wanted to relocate there before his passing.
Walt was a unique individual with a persevering attitude. He had an admiration for others that persevered through tough challenges and knew that those who take risks and try to do new things often fail but should be acknowledged for getting back up and trying again. One of his favorite speeches that guided him through life was President Theodore Roosevelts “The Man in the Arena.” That is how he lived, never giving up.
As a child, while attending public school, he proved to be more persevering than the teachers preferred to handle and his parents were asked to find other accommodations that might prove more appropriate. As a result Walt was shipped off to Fork Union Military Academy where they were better equipped to deal with such individuals.
Not able to stay out of trouble, one night young Walt decided it would be a good idea to play down at the DC train yard. He thought it would be fun to hitch a ride on the outside of a freight train and visit new and exciting places. Little did he know as he jumped on the outside ladder of the train that it was headed to Baltimore MD. He learned quickly that trains headed to Baltimore at that time of night traveled at very high speeds. He said that while he made the trip, he “barely” made it alive. He was then picked up by the local police and taken to jail where his father was called to retrieve him.
Walt loved to play sports and played as much football, baseball and basketball as he could while he was growing up. Walt was also a very good boxer! He was undefeated and was ranked as one of the Featherweight Golden Gloves in Washington DC. Even though he was small framed, you did not want to underestimate his boxing abilities or pick a fight with him.
Walt was proud to serve his country as an Airborne Air Controller in the United States Navy for 4 faithful years. He flew in submarine hunter aircraft off of aircraft carriers as part of Attack Squadron VS-27 during the Korean conflict; based on his actions during this time he was awarded the Individual Air Medal. After he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1954 he enjoyed flying as a licensed private pilot. Walt was often seen wearing his Navy cap and sharing military stories when given the chance.
Even though his early years of structured education were challenging, he eventually decided to prove his intelligence further by studying government, accounting and business administration at The George Washington University (’59) where he met his future wife Nettie. While at GWU he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and served on the board.
After graduating, Walt became a Certified Public Accountant and went to work with Price Waterhouse. He also worked with his father in the family trucking company in Washington DC. He helped run the business before selling it to seek a new challenge in real estate.
In 1964 he became Manager of Industrial Sales for the Shannon and Luch’s Company, one of the leading real estate firms in the District of Columbia. Then in 1972 he decided to start his own real estate development business which would become Commercial Brokers Real Estate Services serving commercial clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia. In 1989, he hired his son Nick into the business and began teaching him all there was to know about real estate.
As a developer, Walt built warehouse, industrial and office properties around the DC area and as a broker he represented clients with the purchase and sale of all types of real estate. He was also a real estate appraiser for a number of years and was an expert witness in numerous courts. Walt also developed real estate in Costa Rica. On one trip he avoided being shot down while flying a private plane over Cuban Airspace after the Cuban Missile Crisis as he and his business partner had to evade bad weather in their small plane. Luckily a missile was never fired but he said it was the most stressful flight he ever made since the Cuban Air Traffic Controllers would never give him permission to fly over their airspace even though he was forced to.
Walt had few hobbies other than work but he did enjoy snow skiing in Vermont and Jackson Hole Wyoming, water skiing and sailing in the Bethany Beach Delaware area. He was also an excellent bowler. He was proud of staying in shape and worked out routinely with his personal trainer until recently. He was a bit of a show off into his 90’s and would show others he could do more pushups than they could, and he was usually right. He would drop to the floor almost anywhere to prove his advanced physical ability. He was a history expert and political news buff and was exceptionally good at Jeopardy. He also enjoyed working on political campaigns.
There are many stories of Walt quietly helping friends and family and numerous non-profit organizations over his lifetime and giving back greatly enriched his life. He was always thankful for God’s blessings on him and his family and friends. The family is thankful to the friends, private caregivers and hospice nurses that cared for Walt and all those that assisted the family during this time.
He is survived by his daughter Amy and her husband Mario of Germantown Maryland, his son Nick and his wife Melanie and his three cherished grandchildren, Aiden (Jordan), Ryan and Reed Propps of Statesboro GA. You will be greatly missed Papa!
In lieu of a public funeral, Walt and Nettie were honored in 2024 at a celebration of life party held by their children in Bethesda Maryland to bring family and friends together while they were both able to join everyone.
In lieu of flowers, Walt would have preferred that you make a donation to a non-profit organization helping others in the community such as Fostering Families Bulloch, Hospice, a church, or help a friend or family member in need.
