Nelda Cobb Christian, 78, of Ames, Iowa, passed away January 9, 2014, at her
home. A gathering of friends and family will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care 414 Lincoln Way, with a celebration of life memorial service at Gilbert Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Iowa, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15.

She was born to the late Numa and Leota Cobb, January 1, 1936, in Gibsonville, North Carolina. Nelda graduated from McLeansville High School in 1954 and received a baccalaureate from University of North Carolina-Greensboro, in 1958. She married the late Dr. Lauren Christian in 1959 and they lived in Madison, Wisconsin and Knoxville, Tennessee, before making their home north of Ames for the next 50 years.

Nelda was a home economics and physical education teacher until she retired in 1961 to become a mother to Chandra, and later Russell. Nelda was active in sports, volunteer coaching in Gilbert, 4-H, Story County and Iowa State Fair activities, and the swine industry. In particular, she was a representative of the Iowa Purebred Association for the Pork Board, served on the Iowa Pork Producers, and was a driving force behind the "Taste of Elegance," a program of the Iowa Pork Tenderloin Judging Committee. She was dedicated to youth development and started the Gilbert grade school girls' softball and basketball programs, served as a volunteer 4-H leader for over 20 years, and was on the Story County Fair Board for many years. Her outgoing, curious, and welcoming nature was notable and especially evident in her (and Lauren's) international travel as well as her creating a family extension of colleagues, graduate students, and foreign visitors.
Nelda never met a stranger and she lived life on her own terms.

Nelda is survived by daughter Chandra Christian of Efland, North Carolina, and Russell Christian (Chris) of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and grandchildren Clementine and Django Christian of Mount Horeb. She is also survived by brothers Dr. Numa Watt Cobb II (Carolyn) and Dr. Steven Cobb (Deb) of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Eric Cobb (Sandra) of Gibsonville, North Carolina. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Lauren Christian, in 1998, sister Dolphine (Bug) Cobb Wright, and parents Numa Cobb and Leota Cobb.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Story County 4-H Endowment, in memory of Nelda Christian, at the Iowa 4-H Foundation, Extension 4-H Youth Building, Iowa State University, 50011-3630.

On line condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com