Donald Anderson Nickens

We celebrate the long, large, and fruitful life of Donald “Nick” Nickens, whose earthly life began on April 20, 1934, and came to a peaceful end on March 24, 2022 with his beloved wife, Elizabeth “Beth” Nickens by his side. They first met at a dance in Margate, England, where he stole her from her date, and never let her go, they had the most wonderful love story and were married for 67 years.

Nick didn’t have it easy as a child, his father passed away when he was only 5 years old. He started working when he was very young. He has always been a big, strong man and was very proud to say that he got his driver’s license when he was 13 years old and worked for the Teamsters Union. He unloaded 100 lb. bags of concrete from railcars – he could carry a bag on each shoulder! He was driving concrete trucks, until he was told to back one up to the dock, which he gladly did, but unfortunately didn’t realize that the boss’s car was parked in the way! During his mid-teens, his uncle Earl got him into drag racing, which he loved.

At 18, he decided to join the Air Force. He always told us that he charmed his way into the service, because his eyesight was never very good. That was the best decision of his life, because he was stationed at Manston AFB, England, and met the woman who would change his life for the better. They got married with $50 to their name. You always knew how much Nick loved Beth, because he was never shy about telling anyone that would listen, “isn’t she the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen!” His greatest joy was his family, daughter Helen was born in England, son Greg was born in Maine, son Robert “Bob” was born in England, and daughter Kelly was born in Texas. Being in the Air Force, meant that the family traveled a lot, his least favorite location was Loring AFB, Maine, as part of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). It was miserably cold in the winters, where he worked on the flight line and was responsible for always keeping the B-52s ready, sometimes working 36 hours at a time in well below freezing temperatures. The family moved from Albuquerque to Maine, and had their mobile home professionally transported in January. It arrived 3 weeks late, and unfortunately discovered that it had been in a wreck and the transport company repaired it but didn’t tell them. They found out after they accepted it, that they did not put any insulation in it. It was bitterly cold and the warmest they could get it was 45°F that winter. We were there for 5 years. Several years and 3 more children later, while stationed at Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, TX, transfer orders were announced, his commander stated, I don’t know where anyone is going, except for Nickens – he’s going to Loring AFB. Three weeks later we were in Maine. Being older and wiser, we were there for less than a year! He was also stationed in Guam during the Vietnam War, where he was instrumental in servicing the B-52s for use during the war effort. His dream was to be a pilot, but his eyes would not allow this, so his last few years in the AF, he was an instructor, training pilots!

He retired from the AF in 1974, and moved to Phoenix, AZ to be near Beth’s parents (who immigrated to the US in 1966) and her sister, who also married an Air Force man! One of the jobs he had was working for a jet propulsion company that made the ejector seats for the space missions. He also worked at Garrett and Honeywell. His second retirement was in 1996 and he moved to Cordes Lakes, AZ for several years, and returned to Phoenix in 2014, to be closer to family.

His passions were golfing, shooting pool (even beating everyone when his vision was almost completely gone!), camping, hunting, fishing, and road trips! However, his greatest joy was his wife, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended families. He would do anything for anyone – he always said – if you need me to move your house, I can do it, show me a corner. He liked to hold court in his later years, always telling wonderful stories, and his favorite comment was “Are you listening”, if he thought we weren’t paying attention to him.

He is survived by his wife, Beth; their four children, Helen Cauthen (Conrad), Greg Nickens (Janet), Robert “Bob” Nickens (Cris), Kelly Shuck (Lance), and “adopted” daughter, Angie Rosser; grandchildren, Caryn VanEynde (Andy), Beth Lucas (Jameson), Jessica Lucas-Chobo (Regis), Logan Shuck, Jaime Cauthen (Tess), Kristen Yace (Steven), Ashlee Cauthen (Tyler), Lindsey Lucas (Ronnie); great-grandchildren, CJ Foster, Dylan Foster, Kaylyn Foster, Lilly Yace, Cayden VanEynde, Coltyn VanEynde, Aubrie Corwin, Avery Chobo, Natasha Corwin, Piper Corwin, Xander Yace, Anabelle Yace, Isabella Blankenship; his brother, Mike Hyman (Charlene) and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Harlan Nickens and Gladys Hyman, stepfather Fred Hyman, his sisters, Mildred Cox and Betty Nickens.

Services are scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th, at 11AM at the CCV Christ Church of the Valley (Peoria Location) 7007 W. Happy Valley Rd. Peoria, AZ. Building 400.

Following the funeral Donald will be laid to rest in National Memorial Veteran Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunlandmemorial.com for the Nickens family.