Pauline Helen Nixon

Pauline (Payne) Nixon (103) passed away Friday, October 31, 2025. She was born May 26th, 1922, near Centreville, Alabama. Being a member of the Antioch Baptist Church was important to her childhood. Her sweet, loving kindness was a testament to her Christian faith. She was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. She then moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to attend nursing school. Two years later she met her future husband, Norman, while being students at the aircraft maintenance school on the campus of Brookley Army Air Field, Mobile, Alabama. They were married November 20, 1945. Immediately after they married, he left for service with the Third Army in Germany. She continued with aircraft maintenance and became a “Rosie the Riveter,” repairing aircrafts damaged during WWII.

Norman’s career relocated them to Indiana. Pauline was a dedicated stay at home mom, active in the early childhood and young adult activities of their 4 children. She was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, and Elementary School volunteer. One of her proudest roles was that of being grandma. Grandchildren were very special people to her. She loved her role as “GG” to her great grandchildren. She was a wonderful cook and was well known for preparing family-favorite recipes.

She mastered the art of sewing and loved sewing for her family. She became an award-winning quilt and garment maker and hand quilted many quilts. She was an avid gardener and loved growing roses. Working in her flower garden was never “work” for her. She was a devoted wife to Norman for almost 80 years.

A visitation will be at Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin St., Mobile, Alabama, Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm. The funeral service will follow. The interment will occur at Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile Alabama.

Pauline is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Ada (Pullen) Payne; sisters, Willodean Elliott, Mildred Mathews, and Bonnie Pouncy; brothers, Julius, Russell, Harold, Bobby and Donald Payne; and son-in-law, Larry Bledsoe. Surviving is sister, Janice Wash. Also surviving are husband, Norman Nixon; children, Norma Bledsoe, David (Pamela) Nixon, Diana (Allan) Howard, and Michael (Sally) Nixon; grandchildren, Cindy (Hunter) Austin, Aaron Bledsoe, Brian (Christine) Howard, Lisa (Jeremy) Parrish, Amy (Stephen) Fosnot, Jessica (Oliver) Tracy, Dana (James) Riley, Sydney (Blake) Zent and step-granddaughter Amie Michelle Randen; great grandchildren, Molly and Collin Austin, Everett Howard, Alice and Rosie Parrish, Erin and Elizabeth Fosnot, Kathryn, James and Daniel Riley, Trace Andrews, Dewey Zent; step great-grandsons, Victor, Kevin and DJ Miller and Malachi Randen; step great-great grandchildren, Alexa, Patty and Naomi Miller, Ronan, Emmet and Declan Miller. Surviving also are numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.