RAYMOND R. NICHOLS

Dec. 25, 1919 - Nov. 1, 2011 SOUTH BEND - Raymond Robert Nichols, 91, of South Bend, IN, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2011, in Morning Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend. He was born on December 25, 1919, in Evansville, IN, to Derwood and Ada (Young) Nichols.

On May 1, 1949, in South Bend, IN, he married Mary Polino. Mr. Nichols is survived by four daughters, Janice (Robert) Owens of South Bend, IN, Diana (Duke) Hoffman of South Bend, IN, Barbara Dockery of South Bend, IN, and Patricia (Fred) Kelley of East Mesa, AZ; son, Alan (Kathleen) Nichols of Noblesville, IN; 12 grandchildren, Julie R. Owens, Israel J. (Tuba) Owens, Ph.D., Elijah D. (Joy) Owens, M.D., Martin L. (Dione) Owens, Christian M. (Bridget) Owens, Vaughn R. (Rebecca) Levy, Isaiah D. Dockery, Elisha M. Dockery, Erin (Casey) Martin, Chad (Amber) Nichols, Nathan Walker and Daniel Walker; 18 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Thomas Nichols of FL.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Nichols on September 23, 2006; grandson, Isaac J. Dockery; sister, Verna VanAtta; and two brothers, Eugene Nichols and Jack Nichols. Mr. Nichols lived most of his life in South Bend.

e served honorably in the United States Army during World War II, serving under General Patton. He was a Tech Sergeant and served as a high speed radio operator in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. Mr. Nichols retired in 1982 from White Farm Equipment as a millwright after more than 30 years of service. Mr. Nichols worked as a security monitor for the Hesburgh Library on the campus of Notre Dame, retiring in 2005.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 4, 2011, in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, South Bend. The family will receive friends from 5:00-800 p.m. today in the funeral home. 

In tears we saw you sinking, We watched you fade away. You suffered much in silence, You fought so hard to stay. You faced your task with courage, You felt your hope descend. But still you kept on fighting, Until the very end. God saw you getting tired, When a cure Was not to be. So He put His arms around you, And whispered "Come with me." So when we saw you sleeping, So peaceful, free from pain, We could not wish you back, To suffer that again. 

Contributions in memory of Raymond Robert Nichols may be offered to the Alzheimer and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, 922 E. Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617. Online condolences may be sent to www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Nov. 3, 2011.

02/17/2023 EJS