The Shadow
Mr. Paul Frederick Nichols, age 91, of Covington, died Thursday, October 16, 2014, at LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany, Low Moor. He was the husband of the late Margaret Knies Nichols and Candice Sherry Nichols.
Mr. Nichols was born September 30, 1923 in Alleghany County, the son of the late Daniel Webster Nichols and Alma Virginia Nichols and still owned and lived in the home where he was born.
He served his country as a member of the United State Coast Guard during World War II where he was aboard a ship that transported troops to Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion. Paul went on to serve as a Merchant Marine for over forty-one years surviving his ship being blown up and serving time in both Korea and Vietnam before retiring from military service with a Chief Engineer’s license.
For his service to this county, Mr. Nichols received the Merchant Marine Combat Bar, the Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Bar and the Atlantic War Zone Bar from the War Shipping Administration.
Paul was a member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Nichols was a member of the Farm Bureau, an avid Virginia Tech fan and a former member of the Golden Hokie Club.
Mr. Nichols is survived by two daughters, Janet N. Leslie of Winfield, WV and Lucinda Hutcherson Perez of Moyock, NC; two grandchildren, Jacob F. Leslie and Jeremy S. Hutcherson; a number of nieces and nephews, and special friends, Marilyn A. Wood, Rev. Dan Gillette, Norman Persinger and Hal Sharp.
Mr. Nichols was the last surviving member of his family that included three brothers and two sisters.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 18, 2014 at Mallow Presbyterian Church with Rev. Gary Marshall officiating, assisted by Rev. Dan Gillette. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Norman Persinger, Hal Sharp, Anthony “Tony” Nicely, and Mike Andrews.
The family will receive friends on Saturday afternoon from 12 noon until service time at the church and at other times at the residence of Marilyn A. Wood, 3095 Pitzer’s Ridge Road, Covington.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.
