McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Obituaries

December 24, 2012

Bobby J. Nichols dies at 88

Submitted report

McALESTER — Bobby J. Nichols, 88, of Kiowa, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Shawnee.

The family will greet friends Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Chaney Harkins Funeral Home, McAlester.

Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. at Chaney’s Memorial Chapel, McAlester, with the Rev. Don Russell officiating.

Interment will follow at Kiowa City Cemetery, Kiowa.

Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard, Tinker Air Force Base.

Funeral services are under the direction of Chaney Harkins Funeral Home, McAlester.

Born  Sept. 26, 1924, in McAlester, he was the son of Sherman James and Lemmie Pearl (Nobles) Nichols.

He attended school at Pittsburg, Quinton and Wilburton and graduated high school from Alameda High, Alameda, Calif.

He married Doris L. Kennedy on Sept. 8, 1945, in Yuma, Ariz.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and remained on active duty during WWII and Korea and was decorated before his retirement in 1962.

His name was memorialized on a bronze blaque called “Men to Remember” on  the quarter deck of the USS Hancock-CVA-19.

While on active duty he attended the Combat Air Crewman School, Maui, T.H.; Aviation Ordnance B School, Jacksonville, Fla.; and the Department of Defense Civil Defense School, Alameda, Calif.

In 1962, he transferred to the Fleet Reserve and moved back to McAlester.

From 1962 to 1964, he worked as the McAlester/Pittsburg County Civil Defense Director.

From 1964 to 1972 he worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot as a firefighter.

Then from 1962 to 1980 they co-owned and operated the Kiowa-Koin-O- Matic Laundry until 1980 when he retired. He enjoyed camping and fishing while in retirement.

He is survived by sons, James W. Nichols and wife, Barbara, of Kiowa; grandson, Kelly James Nichols and wife, Beth, of Lacey, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Nichols and Riley Nichols, both of Lacey, Wash.; and, brothers,Willard D. Nichols, of McAlester; Donald D. Nichols and wife, Imogene, of McAlester, and Sherman Nichols and wife, Doka, of Kiowa; brother-in-law, Ralph Sullivan, of Pittsburg; sisters, Mary Doyle, of Mustang, Arlene Nichols, Beverly Nichols, and Carlene Nichols, all of Pittsburg; sisters-in-law, Georgia Ann Nichols, of Eufaula, and Jeannine Nichols, of Kingfisher; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, on Nov. 5, 2012; parents, Sherman and Lemmie Nichols; step-mother, Alma Nichols; brothers, Eugene Nichols, Clyde W. Nichols, James F. Nichols, John Nichols and Kenneth N. Nichols; and, sister, Billie Fay Sullivan.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Gary Don Nichols, Randy Nichols, Jeff Nichols, Stephen Nichols, Jim Sullivan, Joe Sullivan, Chris Nichols and Johnnie Burrows.

Honorary pallbearers will be, Jim Ray, Kenneth Battles, Herb Cox and Buzz Henry.

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