His parents, Karl Theodore and Dorothy Frances (Banks) Nichols, welcomed their son into the world on January 31, 1927 in Arlington, Massachusetts.
With his mother’s permission, Richard left school early and enlisted in the Navy on February 12, 1944, serving during World War II until his honorable discharge on May 19, 1946. While serving onboard the USS Barr escort destroyer stationed in the Pacific, he earned the rank of Electrician’s Mate Second Class, which would serve him well later in his life.
Following his discharge from the Navy, Richard married his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy Kendall in 1946, while working in a mine in Gilsum, NH where he earned $65 per week, big money back then. He realized there was no future in the mine, so he went to work for the New Hampshire Public Service Company, earning $35 a week. He continued to work as a lineman with Public Service until his retirement at the age of sixty. Following retirement, he bought a small home in Eustis, Florida, sight unseen, and started spending his winters there.
Dorothy passed away in 1990. Richard was blessed to remarry a year later to Phyllis (Fisk) Stillings, another childhood acquaintance. They shared 26 years of wonderful memories until her passing in 2017.
In Richard’s earlier years, he was an avid skier and a member of the National Ski Patrol. He participated as a ski patroller during the annual World Cup Races in Vermont. He loved to go on cruises, dancing, and playing golf.
He will be greatly missed by many, especially his children, daughter, Anne L. Nichols of Keene; son, Kendall E. Nichols, of Keene; his grandchildren, Jason Nichols and his wife, Emily, of Keene, Christopher Nichols and his wife, Jessica, of Bow, NH, Christin Nichols and her partner, Christopher Hachey, of Keene; great-grandchildren, Kirsten, Taylor, Garret, Ava, Bryce, and Liam; his wife Phyllis’ children, David LaCoste and his wife, Patricia Campbell, of Keene, Randy LaCoste and his wife, Gerri, of Walpole; grandson, Shaun LaCoste, of Walpole; a sister, Nancy Keating of Keene, two brothers, George Nichols of Marlborough, NH, Roger Nichols, of Keene; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Richard was predeceased by a son, Richard J. Nichols, and a stepson, Greg LaCoste.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 2:00pm in the Gilsum Congregational Church, 13 Main Street, Gilsum, NH. Burial with military honors will follow in Centennial Cemetery, Centennial Hill Road, Gilsum. There are no public calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Nichols’ memory to The Community Kitchen, PO Box 1315, Keene, NH 03431.
The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to everyone at American House for the wonderful care and friendship given to Richard during his time residing with them.
