Robert Alden Nichols

Bob was born at the Larkin Place in east Diamond Springs in 1930. The son of Elinor and Clarence “Bud” Nichols, he was the ninth of ten children and the youngest son. He grew up raising cattle and farming with his family. Favorite childhood pastimes included roaming the countryside with his dog, Lucky. He began grade school at the one-room Coon Hollow School and attended the Tennessee School at Rescue after the family moved there in 1939. Bob graduated from El Dorado High School in 1949.

As a young man, Bob drove logging and lumber trucks throughout the Mother Lode area. After a brief time working in Sacramento, he joined the staff of Aerojet General in Folsom. He retired from Pacific Gas & Electric after a 25-year career in 1990.

It was at Aerojet in the early days of the manned space program that Bob discovered a love of astronomy. He was a lifelong stargazer and amateur meteorologist who maintained daily weather records until his death.

In 1956, Bob married his wife of 59 years, Marilee Nichols (née Lyons) of Placerville. Bob and Marilee enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii and the ruins at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan.

Bob will be remembered by all who knew him for his easy smile, mischievous sense of humor, and gentle, loving spirit. He will live on forever in the hearts of his friends and family members.

Bob leaves behind Marilee, daughters Leann (David) Traver and Julie (Terry Smith) Nichols, grandsons D. J. (Josie) Traver and Duncan Smith, and great-grandson Forrest Traver. He is survived by his sister, Gloria Nichols, and brother, Vincent (Barbara) Nichols, as well.

Plans for a celebration of life will be announced in the near future. Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Snowline Hospice of El Dorado County, 2520 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.